“The king is fantastic,” said Harry after meeting Carlo at Clarence House. Meanwhile, William remains distant.
Three words spoken with a measured smile defined the meeting: “The king is fantastic”. This is what Prince Harry said at the exit from Clarence House, where on Wednesday afternoon he met his father, King Carlo, after more than a year and a half away. The Duke of Sussex has respected the maximum reserve on the content of the interview, as requested by the sovereign.
The expected meeting
The king had left Scotland for London with a private plane, landed at the Northolt Raf base around 3 pm. Shortly after, Harry hastily interrupted a commitment in the west area of the city, thus anticipating the meeting with his father. No detail was leaked in advance, confirming that the confidentiality agreement had been respected.
The distance that remains, the one with William
The last meeting between father and son dates back to February 2024, when Harry flown from California after the king’s diagnosis. Since then, the contacts had been limited and the tensions increased, especially after the public statements of the Sussex on family issues. Meanwhile, Prince William has maintained distances, not participating in the meeting and thus confirming the division between the two branches of the royal family.
A cautious but positive signal
“This is an important first step to reconstruct the relationship between father and son,” said an insider al Daily Mail. Although discreet and measured, the meeting thus represents a positive sign. Father and son seem intent on restarting the dialogue, aware that reconstructing trust will take time and concrete gestures. Harry avoided comments, while Carlo has imposed precise rules to protect confidentiality, reporting that any rapprochement will be gradual. “There is still a long way to go before Harry can regain his family’s trust, but he gave some reassurances,” added the source.
The afternoon tea at Clarence House therefore remains a symbolic moment, the first step towards the possible mending of a family bond put to the test in recent years.
