King Charles was reportedly unhappy after learning that U.K. officials knew about Prince Harry’s return before he did. According to Radar Online, Harry first informed British security officials about his plans before telling Charles. The King learned about it days later.
“The King understands perfectly well why the appropriate authorities needed advance warning, particularly given Harry’s long-running concerns about security,” a royal source told the outlet. The source added, “What angered him and made him furious was discovering that officials apparently knew something as significant as his son’s return before he did.”
The insider continued, “After everything that has happened between them, Charles regarded that as extremely disappointing.” Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet had arrived back in Britain from California in late August for an “extended stay.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made their official return to the UK with their children, marking a dramatic homecoming 6 years after stepping away from royal duties and moving to California.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly plan to settle at a private residence… pic.twitter.com/vLfuV8xB75
— StandupSpeakOut (@StndupSpekup) August 26, 2026
This came six years after the couple quit royal duties and moved to the U.S. in 2020. The children would start school in Britain in September, too. Meanwhile, the Sussexes would remain non-working royals. This isn’t a quick visit, according to the source.
“This isn’t some routine visit lasting a couple of days – Harry is bringing his wife and children back to Britain.” The return also put Harry’s security back in focus. In February 2020, officials ended his automatic police protection. They switched to a case-by-case system after he stepped back as a working royal.
Harry later took the decision to court. After losing his appeal in May 2025, he told the BBC he couldn’t “see a world” where he could bring Markle and their children to Britain safely. The Home Office has defended the case-by-case system.
Prince Harry, “I can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point”
“The things they’re going to miss is everything”
“I love my country, I always have done, despite what some people in my country have done”
“I miss the UK.. I… pic.twitter.com/XuVsqhsoHF
— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) May 2, 2025
They called Harry’s protection arrangements “bespoke” and tailored to his circumstances. Because of this, officials need warning about his return this time. Former Royal Protection Chief Dai Davies also warned that protecting the family during a longer stay could “cost a huge amount.”
Separately, the outlet’s second source said that Charles and Harry had finally started making progress. “There is frustration because Charles and Harry had finally begun making some progress personally,” the source explained. Charles wanted to keep that relationship going.
“The King wants a relationship with his son and particularly wants opportunities to see his grandchildren,” the source continued. But the source said learning the news late didn’t help. “Against that background, finding himself further down the information chain than the Home Office was never going to improve matters.”
Harry openly spoke about his strained relationship with his father in the BBC interview. After losing his U.K. security appeal, Harry said Charles “won’t speak to me because of this security stuff.” Still, he wanted to fix things. “I would love reconciliation with my family,” Harry added. “There’s no point continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious.”
Four months later, the two met privately at Clarence House in September 2025. It was their first face-to-face meeting in 19 months. Then, in July 2026, Charles hosted Harry, Markle, Archie, and Lilibet at Highgrove House. The visit marked Charles’ first meeting with his grandchildren since 2022.
