The Duke of Sussex had a meeting with his father earlier this month(Image: PA)
The Duke of Sussex has claimed people are trying to “sabotage” his relationship with his King Charles after claims he was surprised his meeting with his father was “distinctly formal”. In a damning statement issued by a spokesman for the Duke of Sussex, it explains how the claims are “categorically false” and may be the result of people “intent on sabotaging” reconciliation with his dad.
It comes after Harry met with the King on September 10 for the first time in 19 months. Following the meeting, reports suggested their private tea at Clarence House had been “distinctly formal” leaving the duke, who stepped down as senior royal in 2020, joking he felt more like an “official visitor” than a family member.
During the meeting he handed his father a framed photograph of his children Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, it was reported.
A spokesman for the Duke of Sussex said: “Recent reporting of the duke’s view of the tone of the meeting is categorically false.
“The quotes attributed to him are pure invention fed, one can only assume, by sources intent on sabotaging any reconciliation between father and son.
“Presumably, those same sources have also chosen to disclose that gifts were exchanged.
“While we would have preferred such details to remain private, for the sake of clarity we can confirm that a framed photograph was handed over, however, the image did not contain the duke and duchess.”
The duke had previously expressed hopes of a reconciliation with his family after reported belief that they may never forgive him for his public accusations.
In a move being viewed as a significant but tentative step towards repairing their troubled relationship, Harry joined Charles for a private tea earlier this month, spending 54 minutes with his father at Clarence House after not seeing him face to face for 19 months.
The duke last saw the King in February 2024 when he made a transatlantic dash from his Californian home to the UK to see Charles following his cancer diagnosis.
He levelled a barrage of accusations at the King, his stepmother the Queen, brother the Prince of Wales and sister-in-law the Princess of Wales in his Oprah Winfrey interview, Netflix documentary, interviews and his autobiography Spare since moving to the US.
The duke remains estranged from the Prince of Wales, with the two not meeting during Harry’s four-day UK stay this month which included charity engagements and catching up with old friends and colleagues.
It comes the same week the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the families of the three schoolgirls who were murdered in the Southport attack last year.
Prince William and Princess Kate both visited Farnborough Road Primary School and Churchtown Primary School as they held private meetings with the families of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silvia Aguiar, with William appearing to wear a friendship bracelet with the Bebe’s name on.
The pair have continued to keep in touch with the families, with them last visiting the town in October last year.