Why King Charles May Never See Harry and Meghan’s Kids Again

The royal family breakdown has led to a situation where King Charles reportedly faces never seeing his grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet again.

Prince Harry said this week in a TV interview that he won’t travel to Britain with Meghan due to security fears of an attack from a “lone actor.” And, as commentators told the Mail on Sunday, this means King Charles will become increasingly “remote” from the children in an “incredibly sad situation.”

The children also do not see their maternal grandfather, Thomas Markle. King Charles last saw Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, in June 2022 during the late queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Harry, 39, has returned to the U.K. several times since, without his wife and children, either for official events or to pursue his legal battles with the British media.

Harry has lost a legal battle in which he sought to oblige the state to automatically offer him and his family police protection on U.K. soil. In February, Harry lost a High Court challenge seeking to overturn that loss. The Mail reports that there is frustration within the Palace about suggestions that Charles could resolve the issue by restoring Prince Harry’s police protection, as that decision that lies with the Home Office committee overseeing royal security.

In his interview with this week’s TV show Tabloids on Trial, Harry suggested an attacker could be inspired by tabloid articles—and confirmed he would travel solo in the future due to genuine concerns for his family’s safety.

He said: “All it takes is for one lone actor who reads this stuff to act on what they’ve read. And whether it’s a knife or acid, these are things that are genuine concerns for me. It’s one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country.”

Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, told the Mail that, given his age and health, a visit to America by the king is unlikely. Royal author Margaret Holder added that it’s difficult for the monarch to travel privately, making a visit to California challenging, but added: “Harry increased the risk to himself, his wife and his family by boasting about killing 25 Taliban fighters in his book.”