In an unexpected development, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, visited King Charles and Queen Camilla this afternoon at Highgrove, the royal couple’s residence in Gloucestershire, bringing along their two children, Archie and Lilibet.

According to a statement from the Palace, the King and Queen hosted the family for a strictly private family gathering, with sources confirming that no photographs from the visit would be made public.

This marks the first time King Charles has seen his grandchildren, seven-year-old Archie and five-year-old Lilibet, since 2022, as his relationship with Harry has remained notably strained in recent years.

Meghan to skip public appearances

The visit comes a day after reports emerged that Meghan would travel to Britain with the couple’s two children, but would not take part in any public engagements. The Duchess of Sussex had not visited the UK in four years, having previously stated she would not accompany her husband to London due to security concerns. She had initially been expected to appear in Birmingham for the one-year countdown event to the Invictus Games, but ultimately chose not to make a public appearance.

Harry attends Invictus Games events

Earlier in the day, Prince Harry took part in events marking the countdown to the Invictus Games and also appeared on the television programme “This Morning,” where he had a warm exchange with presenter Alison Hammond. The Duke of Sussex has met his father only twice in the past two and a half years. According to British media reports, during his visit he also wanted to take his children, for the first time, to the grave of his mother, Princess Diana, at Althorp in Northamptonshire.

Sources say that security concerns were the reason Meghan and the children did not accompany Harry from the start of his trip to Britain, instead arriving later for the private family meeting with the King.