King Charles Made a Special Allowance for Prince Harry During His UK Visit

King Charles and Prince Harry attend the global premiere of 'Our Planet'
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Prince Harry has returned to the UK this week, with his brief four day trip dominating the headlines.

The reason for the Duke of Sussex's rare visit was to attend the WellChild Awards in London. However, with the 40-year-old looking to heal the rift with the Mountbatten-Windsors, he is also said to have met with King Charles for a "secret peace summit" during his stay.

King Charles and Prince Harry attend the 'International Year Of The Reef' 2018 meeting

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Wednesday's sit-down meeting was the first time the pair had seen each other since February 2024. And sources have emphasised its significance, describing it as "an important first step towards rebuilding their father-and-son relationship."

"He has told his father he won't be giving any interviews about it and his team have been instructed not to brief journalists about what was said," sources reported to the Daily Mail. "There's a long way to go before Harry can earn his family's trust but he's given some assurances."

The late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Harry attend the Chelsea Flower Show

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The private meeting is said to have gone smoothly, with King Charles even making a special allowance for Prince Harry during his visit.

In a "highly personal gesture", King Charles granted his son special permission to visit Queen Elizabeth II's grave in Windsor, with Prince Harry's visit coinciding with the three year anniversary of her death.

"The King allowed Harry to pay his respects, but only if it stayed private," a source explained, via Rob Shuter's ShutterScoop. "That meant no Netflix crews, no photographers, no sneaky social media posts."

"Charles didn’t want her memory turned into content," added another royal source. "This was about respect, not publicity."

We will continue to update this story.

Jenny Proudfoot
Contributing Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. After working at Marie Claire UK for seven years - rising from intern to Features Editor - she is now a freelance contributor to the News and Features section.

In 2021, Jenny was named as a winner on the PPA's '30 under 30' list, and was also listed as a rising star in journalism.