Prince Harry Won't See King Charles or Prince William During U.K. Visit

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince Harry’s latest trip to the U.K. to support a close cause won’t include a visit with his fatherKing Charlesor brotherPrince William.

On Sept. 30, the Duke of Sussex, 40, will step out to attend the 2024WellChild Awardsceremony in London, bringing him back to England from his California home for thesecond timein recent weeks. WellChild works to support seriously ill children and their families, and the awards celebrate the inspirational qualities of the young people and their carers. Prince Harry has been patron of the national charity for 16 years, and the awards are a staple on his annual calendar.

Prince Harry arrives at the WellChild Awards in London on Sept. 30, 2024.Chris Jackson/Getty

Chris Jackson/Getty

Harry’s relationship with his father, who is likely still in Scotland alongsideQueen Camilla, remains strained amid the Duke of Sussex’s ongoing battle for security. Sources previously told PEOPLE thatcalls and letters to his father go unanswered. Harry’s attempts to connect with his brother, William — through texts, calls, and messages — are also similarly ignored.

Prince William, King Charles and Prince Harry at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in London on Sept. 19, 2022.Chris Jackson/Getty

The Duke of Sussex’s spokesperson attributed the lack of interaction between Harry and his father in May to the monarch’s"full schedule,“though sources close to the duke hinted at a deeper issue. Prince Harry wanted to discuss his ongoing battle for security, which he has been fighting for in court for over four years and believes his father the King has the power to reinstate. (Buckingham Palace will not comment on security provisions, but a palace source told PEOPLE the notion that Harry’s security is in Charles’ hands is “wholly incorrect.")

Despite apositive meetingin person between the father and son in February following King Charles’cancer diagnosis, their communication has since deteriorated. Those close to Harry say that his father no longer takes his son’s calls or responds to his letters. The rift with Prince William is “very bad,” a royal insider said, but it’s not “irreparable.”

Prince Harry and Prince William were at the same place at the same time in late August, when both brothers attended thememorial servicefor their late maternal uncle,Lord Robert Fellowes, in Norfolk, England. Fellowes was married toPrincess Diana’s sister, Lady Jane Spencer, and died in July at age 82, and Prince Harry traveled across the Atlantic to pay his respects at the service on Aug. 29.

Prince William and Prince Harry at Windsor Castle on Sept. 10, 2022.Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images

During the memorial at St. Mary’s Church in Snettisham, the estranged brothers reportedly avoided each other during the service, each sitting with different groups of their maternal cousins.

“Most people were astounded that Harry came,” one of the reported 300 attendees told PEOPLE. “He was on remarkably good form — and you could tell he wasvery pleasedto see everybody. And he was very pleased that he had come over.”

PEOPLE further learned that the Duke of Sussex stayed with his uncle,Charles Spencer, at Althorp House following his appearance at the memorial service. Althorp is the Spencer family’s ancestral home, where Princess Diana grew up and where the late Princess of Wales is buried. The service for the late Lord Fellowes was held two days before the 27th anniversary of Diana’s death on Aug. 31.

Looking ahead to Prince Harry’s latest U.K. stay (which follows hisbusy tripto New York City last week to support several of his patronages and philanthropies), he likely won’t be in the U.K. for long after the WellChild ceremony. On. Sept. 27, his charity Sentebaleannouncedthat the Duke of Sussex would be in Lesotho in early October, re-convening with hisSentebaleco-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and local Sentebale leaders to highlight programming for the organization dedicated to helping young people in southern Africa.

King Charles, Alison Johnstone and Queen Camilla at the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland on Sept. 28, 2024.Jeff J Mitchell/Getty

Jeff J Mitchell/Getty

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Amid what’s expected to be a short U.K. trip for Harry, King Charles andQueen Camillaare in Scotland. The royal coupletraveled northto mark the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament on Sept. 28, and likely will not be back in London on Monday.

source: people.com