King Charles Longs To See Archie & Lilibet & Wants More Than Just ‘FaceTime Relationship’ With Them, Sources Claim

Jun 20, 2024

Prince Harry and Meghan announced to the world on Jan. 8, 2020, that they would step down as senior working members of the British royal family in a move popularly dubbed “Megxit.” By spring of 2020, the transition was complete, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were no longer performing royal duties. 

Since then, they have lived in the United States with Meghan’s mother and their two children. Although Harry and Meghan stepped down from their duties as senior royals, they have not shunned the spotlight, appearing at public charity events and pursuing their own creative and philanthropic ventures, many under their brand, Archewell Foundation.

However, tensions between their small family and the royals have grown, creating a wall between them. Scrutiny of Harry and Meghan has intensified, and people have started expressing their disdain for every move and decision they make, especially toward their children’s lives – Archie and Lilibet. 

Since Buckingham Palace announced King Charles III's cancer diagnosis, reports that the king wanted to extend an olive branch to the Sussexes have emerged. Many expected that Charles and his son, Harry, would meet during the latter’s visit to the United Kingdom for the Invictus Games anniversary. However, conflicting schedules became an obstacle to the pair's meeting. 

Insider reports have also revealed that Charles wants to involve himself more in the lives of his two grandchildren, who reside in California with Harry and Meghan. He reportedly wants more than virtual meetings with them. Keep reading to learn more about King Charles’ relationship with Archie and Lilibet. 

On April 9, 2024, a royal insider revealed to Page Six that there had been talk of King Charles possibly extending an olive branch to Prince Harry and Meghan so that he could reunite with his grandchildren. 

“I can see Charles desperately wanting to see the children, and extending this olive branch to Meghan and Harry. He may decide that life is just too short,” the insider claimed to the outlet. “Balmoral is truly the perfect, restful place for a reunion. If he does issue an invite, then Harry and Meghan should surely agree to the visit.”

However, Prince Harry’s spokesperson stated that a meeting between Harry and Charles wouldn’t be possible.  

"In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not The Duke will meet with his father while in the U.K. this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program. The Duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon,” the spokesperson shared. 

Despite this, Charles did not forget Lilibet’s birthday when she turned 3 years old on June 4, 2024. According to royal expert Tom Quinn, the king sent his youngest grandchild a gift and greeted her on her birthday. 

“King Charles had no intention of completely ignoring Lilibet's birthday, so he sent a gift along with a message,” Quinn told The Mirror.

Quinn also revealed that Charles is saving a special gift for Lilibet after the royal family feud ends. 

"He gave Prince George a beautiful hand-made wooden swing with George's name carved on it and he has plans to give something similar to Lilibet but not this year. And not unless and until the family feud dies down."

Charles’ involvement in his grandchildren’s lives has since become a recurring conversation since he began treatment for his cancer diagnosis. Notably, Charles has only met Archie a handful of times and Lilibet only once. 

Insiders close to the monarch revealed to The Mirror that he has been “keener than ever” to focus on his family and his duties to “make up for lost time” after being instructed to keep his social engagements low. 

He has been described as a “fantastic and enthusiastic grandpa” to Prince William’s children, and he also wants to have the same with Harry’s children. 

“The King is absolutely committed to being present in all of his grandchildren’s lives. He values family above everything and whatever the course of his ­relationship with his son he would never be content with just seeing his grandchildren on the odd video call,” the source added. 

Royal biographer Ingrid Seward, who authored the book “My Mother and I – The Inside Story of the King and Our Late Queen,” told the outlet that Charles’ family has always been important to him. 

“He remembers his own somewhat fragmented childhood as his parents were always busy doing their duty. It is a great sadness to him he doesn’t see more of Archie and Lilibet,” she said. “That is why he will never break ties with Harry. He does not want a FaceTime relationship with his son’s children. He wants to know them and be involved with their lives while they are still young enough to be able to learn from his wisdom. His cancer has made it all the more poignant to him as he knows that he won’t be around for ever.”

Meanwhile, a friend of Harry's gave the outlet a hopeful reassurance: “There has never been an issue with the King being in their lives, and there never will be. The door’s always open.”

Charles’ desire to foster closer ties with his grandchildren in America has led to speculation that he may consider a state visit, according to royal expert Tom Quinn. He told The Mirror:

“Charles has had discussions about an official visit to the United States at some time in the future, and there is no doubt if it goes ahead he would build in time to visit his youngest son and his grandchildren, but there are mountains of planning to be overcome before that becomes even a remote possibility.”  

Quinn said the king would likely “make a discreet private visit to Harry and the children in California. He is desperate to see them and hates the idea that Archie and Lili will not remember him as the warm friendly grandfather he wants to be.”

Meanwhile, another royal commentator, Michael Cole, told MailOnline that the monarch was feeling the “lack of closeness with his California grandchildren acutely.” 

“Painfully aware that time is precious, the King regrets that he cannot be closer to his grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. It is not just the 5,000 miles between Clarence House and California that keeps the monarch at a distance from his youngest grandchildren. The antipathy between Prince Harry and his wife Meghan and the Royal Family has created a deep divide that makes normal family relationships so fraught as to be almost impossible.”

“In the middle of this unedifying falling-out in the world's most famous family are two innocent young children who are growing up without any real contact with their royal cousins in Britain, not to mention their grandfather, the head of the family, the King, as he undergoes treatment for an unspecified cancer and would welcome the pleasure and comfort of seeing his grandchildren,” Cole added.

What can you say about King Charles’ decision to be closer to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet? Do you think King Charles and Prince Harry would be able to mend their broken relationship again? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends and other loved ones out there!