King Charles reunited with his grandkids for the first time in 4 years

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have had a long-awaited reunion with their grandfather, King Charles.

Buckingham Palace confirmed Friday, July 10, that King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their two children that afternoon. The private family reunion took place at Highgrove House, the king’s country residence in Gloucestershire, England.

The palace said no photos from the meeting would be released and no further details would be shared because it was a private family gathering.

The meeting marked the first time Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, had seen their grandfather, King Charles, 77, in person in four years.

Archie and Lilibet live in California with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who moved there after stepping down as working members of the royal family in 2020. The children were last in the U.K. in June 2022, when they traveled with their parents for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, although they did not attend any public events.

Before the reunion, Prince Harry and Meghan had been vacationing in Europe with their children. Harry, 41, returned to the U.K. alone on July 6 to attend several charity events, including the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. Meghan, 44, and the children were originally expected to join him, but security concerns disrupted those plans. It was later announced that Harry would return to London without his family, although they could still visit other parts of the U.K.

Reports on July 9 said Meghan, Archie and Lilibet would travel to the U.K., but they are not expected to make any public appearances.

Earlier Friday, Prince Harry and King Charles carried out separate public engagements. Harry took part in activities that will be featured at the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, about 85 miles from Highgrove House, while the king visited Oxfordshire, about 50 miles from Highgrove House.

Meanwhile, Prince William took part in a charity polo match in Windsor, supported by his wife, Kate Middleton. There are no known plans for the two brothers to reunite during Harry’s visit to the U.K.

King Charles, then Prince Charles, and Queen Camilla previously spent time with Archie and Lilibet during the family’s 2022 visit to the U.K. It was also the first time Charles met Lilibet, who was born after Harry and Meghan moved to California.

“It was a fantastic visit. The prince was delighted to see his grandson and meet his granddaughter for the first time,” a royal source said at the time, adding that it was “wonderful” to have the Duke and Duchess of Sussex back in the U.K.