Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have been reunited with their grandfather King Charles after a four-year separation. The long-awaited family reunion represents a major development in the ongoing relationship between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the royal household.According to PEOPLE magazine, King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their two children on Friday, July 10. The meeting took place at Highgrove House, the monarch’s private country residence in Gloucestershire, England. Pictures of the occasion are not expected to be released and no further details were provided as the gathering was conducted as a private family gathering.
King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their children for a private gathering at Highgrove House. Image credit (Instagram).
The meeting marked the first in-person meeting between Prince Archie, 7, Princess Lilibet, 5, and their grandfather, 77, in four years.
Children’s previous time in the UK
Archie and Lilibet were raised in California, where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved after they retired as working members of the Royal Family in 2020. The children were last in their father’s home country in June 2022 during his visit to attend Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, although Archie and Lilibet did not appear at any public events.Then-Prince Charles and Camilla previously spent time with their grandchildren during that 2022 visit to the UK, which marked the first time Charles met Lilibet, who was born after the family moved to California. A royal source of the time expressed the importance of that meeting. “It was a fantastic visit. The Prince was delighted to see his grandson and meet his granddaughter for the first time. It was wonderful to have the Duke and Duchess of Sussex back in the UK,” the source said.
Place of birth and celebration of Princess Lilibet
Princess Lilibet was born in the United States in June 2021. Her parents celebrated her first birthday during their 2022 UK trip with a “casual and intimate backyard picnic” at their former residence during the Platinum Jubilee visit.
Prince Harry’s visit to the UK
The meeting comes during Prince Harry’s visit to the UK, which began on July 6. The Duke originally traveled to Britain solo for a series of charity engagements, including events marking the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. Although it was initially announced that Meghan and the children would join him during his visit, security concerns complicated those plans.It was later announced that Harry would return to London without his family, although the possibility of them traveling to other parts of the UK outside the capital remained open. On July 9, it was reported that Meghan, Archie and Lilibet would travel to the UK, although they are not expected to make any public appearances during their time in the country.
Activities on the day of the meeting
Prince Harry and King Charles stepped out separately on Friday ahead of the meeting. Harry took part in testing some of the sports that will be featured at the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, located approximately 85 miles from Highgrove House. Meanwhile, the monarch visited Oxfordshire, located about 50 miles from Highgrove House.
Prince William’s separate activities
During the same time period, Prince William was playing in a charity polo match in Windsor on Friday, supported by his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales. According to available information, there are no known plans for the estranged siblings to reunite during Harry’s visit to the UK.
Previous meeting between Prince Harry and King Charles
Prince Harry last met his father during a visit to the United Kingdom in September 2025. The Duke of Sussex was seen driving to Clarence House, the king’s London residence, and spent approximately 55 minutes inside before leaving, marking the most recent documented meeting between the two men before this last meeting with the grandchildren.