The long-awaited family reunion between Prince Harry (41) and his father King Charles III (77) had another important participant: Queen Camilla (78). As Buckingham Palace confirmed, the King's wife was also present at the private meeting at Highgrove House on July 10.
For the first time in four years, King Charles saw his younger son with his family again, including Duchess Meghan (44) as well as his grandchildren Prince Archie (7) and Princess Lilibet (5), who live with Harry and Meghan in California. Father and son, however, last met in September 2025. The palace did not release official photos or details about the recent conversation.
Camilla's presence was a given, however, explains royal expert Catherine Mayer in conversation with the magazine "People". "She is an indispensable part of Charles' life", says the author. "There is no reconciliation with him without her."
No details about private family meeting
The palace made it clear that the contents of the conversation between Harry and his family should remain private. An insider from the royal circle explained: "It's better if people don't know anything about these meetings. They should be given the opportunity to rebuild these family relationships."
The meeting is particularly notable because Harry spoke openly about his difficult relationship with Camilla in his 2023 memoir "Spare". The current Queen Consort married King Charles in 2005 - after their long-standing relationship during and after Charles' marriage to Princess Diana had caused great public attention.
Prince Harry has complicated feelings for Camilla
In his book, Harry described having mixed feelings toward his stepmother. Among other things, he accused her of passing stories about him and his brother to the press in order to improve her own image.
Harry also spoke about the difficult past in an interview with "Good Morning America". Camilla had wanted to change a certain public image of herself, he explained at the time. At the same time, he emphasized that he doesn't see her as a "wicked stepmother" today.
"I love every member of my family, despite the differences", Harry said. When he meets Camilla, the interaction is "completely pleasant". "She is my stepmother. I see someone who married into this institution and did everything to improve her own reputation and image."
"At its core, it's a family"
For Catherine Mayer, the meeting shows above all a human side of the monarchy. "One of the peculiarities of the monarchy is that we are all made to forget that they are people because they are representatives of the institution", she says.
But ultimately, the royal family is also a family that has experienced severe crises. "No matter what you think of the monarchy - this is a moment many of us wanted to see." Whether the meeting actually leads to a long-term rapprochement between Harry and his family remains to be seen.
