Prince Harry's representatives have categorically denied claims that his recent meeting with King Charles was "distinctly formal", suggesting people are "intent on sabotaging" any reconciliation between father and son. The Duke of Sussex reunited with the King on September 10 for the first time in 19 months at Clarence House.
The Sun reported on Saturday that their private tea had been "distinctly formal" and left Harry feeling more like an "official visitor" than a family member. The newspaper said the duke handed his father a framed picture of his children, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four.
Formal meeting claims disputed
Harry's spokesman said recent reporting of the duke's view was "categorically false". He described the quotes attributed to Harry as "pure invention fed, one can only assume, by sources intent on sabotaging any reconciliation between father and son."
The spokesman confirmed that gifts were exchanged during the meeting, including a framed photograph. However, he clarified that "the image did not contain the duke and duchess", contradicting some aspects of The Sun's reporting.
First meeting in 19 months
The private tea lasted 54 minutes and is being viewed as a significant but tentative step towards repairing their troubled relationship. Harry last saw the King in February 2024 when he made a transatlantic dash from California to the UK following Charles' cancer diagnosis.
The duke has made a series of public accusations against the King, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Catherine in his Oprah Winfrey interview, Netflix documentary and autobiography Spare since moving to the US. He has previously expressed hopes of reconciliation amid his belief his family may never forgive him.
Harry remains estranged from Prince William, with the brothers not meeting during Harry's four-day UK visit this month. The once close siblings' long-standing rift shows no sign of healing despite Harry's charity engagements and meetings with old friends during his stay.
The Sun said it had contacted the duke and later confirmed aspects of its reporting. A spokesman for the newspaper said Harry's office "was given full right of reply yesterday in advance of publication and opted not to give a response to The Sun's carefully sourced account of the meeting."
Sources used: "The Sun", "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
