King Charles III does not plan to visit his son Prince Harry during his official United States visit.
As part of their four-day state visit aimed at easing tensions between the U.S. and U.K., Charles and Queen Camilla will not travel to the West Coast to see Harry.
Their packed itinerary includes a White House banquet, an address by Charles to both houses of Congress and a community party commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence. On his return to Britain, Charles will travel to Bermuda, marking his first visit as a monarch to a British Overseas Territory.
The royal family experienced a public fallout after Harry stepped back from his royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California with his wife, Meghan, where they continue to live with their two children.
Family relations were further strained by Harry’s tell-all memoir, which detailed defining experiences from his adolescence and young adulthood as a member of the British royal family, and by a six-part Netflix series which chronicled his relationship with Meghan and the rift with the royal family.
Harry also undertook a three-year lawsuit fighting British authorities on the decision to scale back his family’s U.K. police protection. After losing the suit, Harry said the legal dispute had worsened his fractured family relationships.
“There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family,” Harry told the BBC after the end of the legal battle, adding that he has “forgiven” his family
“I would love reconciliation with my family,” he said. “There’s no point continuing to fight anymore.”
Still, despite Harry’s desire to reconcile with his father, a reunion during Charles’ official visit could create “competing narratives” and distract from the trip’s primary purpose, according to British royal commentator John McDermott, per USA Today.
“One of the complications is if Charles did meet with Harry, it overshadows the whole trip, and the point of the trip is the state visit,” McDermott added. “This week’s agenda is Charles and Camilla, and again, if you meet with Harry, that becomes the story.”
Last September, Charles and Harry reconnected for the first time in 19 months during Harry’s four-day tour in the U.K. The pair met for a private tea at Clarence House, Charles’ London residence, where they spent about 50 minutes together.
Following their brief visit, Harry told The Guardian that over the next year, his “focus really has to be on my dad.” He added, “This week has definitely brought that closer.”
Charles and Harry have not met in person since.