As Prince Harry prepares to return to the UK, many hope he will be reunited with his father, but one royal expert believes peace talks will not be easy.
On Wednesday, the WellChild Awards in London confirmed on Instagram that the Duke of Sussex is the guest of honour at the annual event on September 30. The charity, which supports seriously ill children, is one of the few causes in the UK that the 40-year-old has maintained since stepping down as a senior royal in 2020 and moving to California.
British presenter and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that the 75-year-old king, who was diagnosed with cancer in February, is hesitant to meet his youngest son.
“Every member of the royal family wants to be sure that their conversations are kept private,” Chard told Fox News Digital. “King Charles is absolutely fed up with Prince Harry assuming that he can (handle) his security requests. He will not be available 24/7 for Prince Harry’s demands.”
“However, King Charles loves Prince Harry like a father,” Chard said. “He will make an effort to communicate with him, especially on important days.”
Harry has been fighting in court for his safety in the UK for over four years.
The Duke of Sussex lost his taxpayer-funded personal security after stepping down as a working member of the royal family in 2020.
The Telegraph previously reported that when Harry visited the UK in May for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, he turned down an invitation from the king to stay at a royal residence.
The Duke of Sussex reportedly turned down the offer because it did not include any security measures, which, according to The Telegraph, would have meant staying in a location with public entrances and exits and no police protection.
Instead, Harry stayed in a hotel, as he had done on previous visits.
Representatives for the father and son did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment at the time.
“I think things will improve between King Charles and Prince Harry,” Chard said. “Things are moving in the right direction, but it won’t be an easy solution.”
Sources close to Charles told Chard that the king “would have spoken to Prince Harry on his milestone birthday” on Sunday. She noted that “things are very secret.”
He also noted that Harry’s upcoming trip to the UK has been “on the agenda for some time now”.
“I’m sure he has his security sorted out,” she said. “It would be nice to think he could stay with his father, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he stayed back at Althorp Estate, close to his ‘red aunts’ and Charles Spencer, his aunts and uncle on his mother’s side. He has a very close bond with this side of his family and feels safe and close to his mother when he stays at the estate.”
On May 8, Prince Harry marked the anniversary of the Invictus Games with a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral. Charles and other royals attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace, two miles away.
A spokesperson for Harry confirmed to Fox News Digital that the king was too busy to meet with his son.
Sources close to the prince recently told People magazine that Harry is preparing to appeal a court ruling that upheld the decision to deny him security. He wants to restore his security to allow more flexible visits to the UK for himself, his wife and their two children.
The sources said the issue plays a “crucial role” in his father’s continued estrangement. The sources said the monarch has stopped taking his son’s phone calls and has not responded to his letters.
Chard said Harry’s latest move, which came on Sept. 17, National Voter Registration Day, was likely to deepen the rift.
“Prince Harry and Meghan have waded into American politics and released a statement through their Archewell Foundation urging people to vote,” she explained. “There is an undertone of awareness in their words despite not fully endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump.”
“King Charles will not want to be complicit in their inappropriate behaviour, especially as they have retained their royal titles,” Chard said. “They should remain neutral.”
The statement released by the Archewell Foundation, the charity set up by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, says: “Voting is not just a right; it is a fundamental way to influence the fate of our communities.”
“At the Archewell Foundation, we recognize that civic engagement, regardless of political party affiliation, is critical to achieving a more just and equitable world,” the statement continued. “By participating in initiatives like this, we aim to spread the message that all voices matter.”
“We invite you to join this important effort. Together, let’s ensure that all eligible voters are informed and empowered to participate in shaping America’s future.”
The British royal family is seen to remain neutral when it comes to politics across the pond.
Harry had offered to personally pay for his own police protection when he was in the UK, but the court denied the offer. A friend told People magazine that he feels that as king, Charles “might intervene.” The issue has created a wall between father and son, and conversations have turned from frustration to “total silence” from the king, the friend said.
Pals told the outlet that Harry is “keen” to visit his friends in the U.K. and work directly, “rather than via Zoom,” with the charities he is still connected to in his home country. He also wants to bring his family to the U.K. to visit them, but is concerned about their safety.
Harry managed to squeeze in a low-key trip to his home country for the memorial service for his late uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, on August 29. The outlet reported that Harry stayed with his uncle, Earl Charles Spencer, in Althorp.
Chard claimed that Harry “breached the trust between himself and other members of the royal family”.
“All members of the royal family want to be sure that their conversations remain private,” he said.
In February, Prince Harry saw his father during a brief trip to the UK, which lasted approximately 45 minutes.
Harry has had a strained relationship with his family since he and his wife stepped back from royal duties. At the time, the couple said the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British press were what prompted them to step back as senior royals.
The father of two has since detailed his difficult relationship with his family in television interviews, a documentary and his memoir, “Spare.”
A friend of the couple told People magazine that security was always a major concern, along with a lack of support from the palace.
“(They) felt like they had no other option,” the friend told the outlet. “The only option was to leave, for their mental health. I think they thought if they got out of this bubble, there would be less attention on them.”
According to the outlet, some people close to the palace suggested that Harry’s memoirs and interviews have compromised the family’s trust in him. Meanwhile, those close to the prince argued that if he had proper security, he wouldn’t need to speak publicly to help pay for it.
If the security problem is resolved, “it will all be over,” the friend said.
“(Nothing) would give (Harry) more happiness than being able to rekindle his bond with his father,” the friend told the outlet. “At the end of the day, you can’t undo bloodlines. He’s not asking his father for a nicer house or nicer cars. He’s asking for it because of the reality of the situation. He’s at risk.”
