London, United Kingdom – Prince Harry returns to Britain this week.
Amid speculation that he may be visiting his father, King Charles, for the first time in about 20 months, in tentative steps towards a family reconciliation.
Prince Harry is scheduled to attend the Wilchild Awards on Monday, which also marks the third anniversary of the death of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.
It is an annual charity event for seriously ill children that the Prince has long supported and is one of the rare events that brings him back to Britain.
Media outlets and commentators interested in royal affairs expected that the visit would provide an opportunity for the 76-year-old king and his son to see each other.
In addition to starting to resolve the major dispute between them.
“There is growing talk about the possibility of him meeting his father,” said Simon Perry, who covers the royal family in London for People magazine.
He added: “I think that any time Prince Harry gets close or relatively close to his father, and they could be in the same country, there will be talk about the possibility of them meeting together”.
Buckingham Palace says it never discusses private family matters, and Harry’s spokesman also declined to comment.
Prince Harry (40 years old) last saw his father in February last year, shortly after Buckingham Palace revealed that the king was undergoing cancer treatment.
He is not only far from his father but from the rest of the family.
This has been the case since he and his wife, Meghan, relinquished their royal duties in 2020 and moved to live in California, USA.
seeking rapprochement
Since then, the couple has criticized the royal family in interviews, television documentaries and in his autobiography (Speer).
Prince Harry made particularly scathing comments about his father and older brother, heir to the throne Prince William.
In an emotionally charged interview in May, after losing a legal battle with the British government over his security, Prince Harry, who holds the title of Duke of Sussex, told the BBC (B.B.C) He wants rapprochement.
“Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book,” the prince said. Of course they will never forgive me for many other things. But you know… I would really like to make peace with my family. There is no point in continuing the confrontation anymore. Life is precious.”
“I don’t know how much time my father has left,” he added. He’s not talking to me about security, but it would be great if we could make up.”
Last July, photos were taken of the head of the Royal Palace’s communications department and media representatives of Prince Harry during a secret meeting in London.
Newspapers also suggested that it might be the first step towards reconciliation.
Historian and writer Anthony Selden told Reuters: “I think it is important for the image of the monarchy to show the king communicating with his youngest son”.
“I also think it’s very important for both of them,” he added. The king is the king, but he is also a human being and a loving father.
Prince Harry is not expected to meet his brother, Prince William, as newspapers reported that the Crown Prince is not yet ready to turn the page on the dispute with his brother.