{"id":628177,"date":"2025-12-12T11:11:46","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T11:11:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/628177\/"},"modified":"2025-12-12T11:11:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T11:11:46","slug":"king-charles-wants-prince-harry-at-christmas-despite-family-tensions-expert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/628177\/","title":{"rendered":"King Charles wants Prince Harry at Christmas despite family tensions: expert"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n

King Charles has left the door open for his “darling boy” this holiday season.<\/p>\n

As the ailing monarch prepares to be surrounded by family at Sandringham during Christmas, royal experts told Fox News Digital that his youngest son has been on his mind.<\/p>\n

“I doubt an invitation for Prince Harry would be off the table entirely should the king really want to be with his birth family,” royal commentator Amanda Matta told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n

MEGHAN MARKLE URGED TO SHOW COMPASSION FOR HER AILING FATHER OR RISK COLLAPSE OF HOLLYWOOD BRAND: EXPERTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Split <\/p>\n

Royal commentator Amanda Matta told Fox News Digital that the monarch “has always felt he\u2019s left the door open emotionally” for his son Prince Harry. (Max Mumby\/Indigo\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“Charles has always felt he\u2019s left the door open emotionally,” Matta said. “But the reality is that tensions with Prince William remain unresolved. The idea that he wants this Christmas to be \u2018extra special\u2019 makes sense \u2014 not because it\u2019s necessarily his last, but because he\u2019s acutely aware of time and legacy. For the royals, the unique blend of tradition and togetherness at Christmas acts as a reset button.”<\/p>\n

Matta\u2019s remarks came after a source told Us Weekly<\/a> that the monarch, who is still undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, wants to make this season extra special.<\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

King Charles III during the 2025 National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph on Nov. 9, 2025, in London. (Mark Cuthbert\/UK Press via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“Charles prioritizes duty, but he\u2019s also a family man who knows his time is precious,” the insider told the outlet. “He wants a special last Christmas in case it\u2019s his last.”<\/p>\n

WATCH: KING CHARLES WAS A DOTING FATHER TO PRINCE WILLIAM, PRINCE HARRY: BUTLER<\/strong><\/p>\n

The king, 77, was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer<\/a> in 2024.<\/p>\n

“No one really knows the full extent of Charles\u2019 health struggles, other than the fact that they are ongoing,” Matta said. “After such a turbulent year \u2014 with family rifts, Andrew\u2019s removal of titles, and his own ongoing treatment, now dragging into its third year \u2014 understandably, he\u2019d want to make this Christmas feel meaningful.”<\/p>\n

\"Queen <\/p>\n

A person dressed as Father Christmas, Queen Camilla, Ivan (left) and Fatima (right) in the gardens of Clarence House, London, during the Christmas tree decorating event on Dec. 11, 2025. (Aaron Chown – Pool\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“There\u2019s been a clear effort by the royal family to rally around him, especially from Queen Camilla,” she continued. “Princess Kate\u2019s recovery<\/a>, too, has lifted his spirits; seeing her regain her strength after a difficult year would give anyone in his position a sense of hope.”<\/p>\n

\"Prince <\/p>\n

A young Prince Harry is seen here with his parents, the former Prince Charles and Princess Diana, as they arrive at Sandringham, date unknown. (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Harry has been estranged from his family since he and his wife, Meghan Markle<\/a>, stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California. They cited the unbearable intrusions of the British press and a lack of support from the palace as the reasons for their exit.<\/p>\n

Since settling in the wealthy coastal city of Montecito, the couple aired their grievances in interviews and documentaries. Harry\u2019s 2023 memoir, “Spare,” which exposed embarrassing details about the House of Windsor, worsened his relationship with the royals. Sources close to Harry told People magazine that Charles wouldn\u2019t respond to his phone calls or letters.<\/p>\n

\"Prince <\/p>\n

In “Spare,” Prince Harry publicly detailed his struggles with royal life. (Dan Kitwood\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

In May, Harry told the BBC that he wanted to reconcile with his family.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Prince <\/p>\n

Royal experts previously told Fox News Digital that Prince Harry and Prince William are not on speaking terms. (Samir Hussein\/WireImage\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“I would love reconciliation with my family,” he said at the time. “There\u2019s no point in continuing to fight anymore. I don\u2019t know how much longer my father has.”<\/p>\n

In September, father and son united for the first time in 18 months. Fox News Digital learned that the Duke of Sussex, 41, had a private tea with the king at Clarence House in London<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"King <\/p>\n

King Charles III is seen arriving at Clarence House on Sept. 10, 2025, in London, England. The monarch had a private tea with his son, Prince Harry. (Belinda Jiao\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital that it\u2019s unlikely the Sussexes will travel across the pond for Christmas \u2014 or that certain senior royals would welcome them with open arms.<\/p>\n

\"Meghan <\/p>\n

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California. (Karwai Tang\/WireImage\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“The Sussexes would be far too distracting,” said Fitzwilliams.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“In the hypothetical case that they appear, the publicity would drown out the festivities for the family. The festive season is an opportunity for the king to remind the nation and the Commonwealth of the important role the monarchy has played in soft-power diplomacy. Despite receiving cancer treatment, the king has carried out state visits abroad.”<\/p>\n

\"Charles <\/p>\n

People magazine reported King Charles has a photo of Meghan Markle on display at Clarence House. The monarch walked the “Suits” alum down the aisle on her wedding day in 2018. (Jonathan Brady – WPA Pool\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Us Weekly reported that preparations are underway at Sandringham House, a picturesque 20,000-acre Norfolk estate where the king will host the holidays alongside Queen Camilla. Queen Elizabeth II began hosting Christmas at Sandringham in 1988, a tradition that brings together the “who\u2019s who” of the royal family.<\/p>\n

LIKE WHAT YOU\u2019RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"King <\/p>\n

King Charles III attends an advent service at Westminster Abbey on Dec. 10, 2025, in London. (Chris Jackson\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

A source told the outlet the mood this year is “bittersweet” given the monarch\u2019s health<\/a>. Still, it will be “a time of celebration.”<\/p>\n

“They all want to make the most of their time together,” the insider added.<\/p>\n

\"Kate <\/p>\n

Royal experts told Fox News Digital that King Charles has been inspired by Kate Middleton’s recovery from cancer. (Chris Jackson\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

British royals expert Hilary Fordwich<\/a> told Fox News Digital the royals will continue to present a united front, with or without the Sussexes. And while Charles may want to see his son again, other senior royals<\/a> remain wary \u2014 fiercely protective of the king and any potential leaks that may come to light.<\/p>\n

\"King <\/p>\n

King Charles has been keeping busy while seeking treatment. He is seen here on Dec. 11, 2025, with Dominica High Commissioner Loreen Bannis-Roberts during a private audience at Buckingham Palace in London. (Yui Mok \/ POOL \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“The last thing any of the royals want is more controversy, let alone during the Christmas season,” Fordwich said. “Sadly, Harry can\u2019t be trusted, so all would be leery of any leaks of private family details. King Charles, despite wanting reconciliation, is likely to weigh the fallout from another public betrayal by Harry as too high-risk at this juncture.”<\/p>\n

Months after Harry lost his appeal challenging the U.K. government\u2019s decision to strip him of publicly funded security, his protection measures are reportedly set to be reviewed by the Home Office.<\/p>\n

\"King <\/p>\n

King Charles and Prince Harry during happier times in the U.K. before the Duke of Sussex’s royal exit. (Samir Hussein\/Samir Hussein\/WireImage\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The Guardian<\/a> reported Harry wrote privately to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, requesting a full security risk assessment. This request could potentially open the door to a visit to his home country with his wife and their children.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

Prince Harry has said he doesn’t feel safe bringing his wife and two young children to his home country. (Max Mumby\/Indigo\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Representatives for Archewell and Mahmood did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n

A source told Us Weekly that while the sit-down between Charles and Harry was promising, “that\u2019s as far as it has gone.” Harry and William “remain as estranged as ever,”<\/a> with another source telling the outlet there are concerns over “whether trust can be rebuilt.” They cited Harry and Meghan\u2019s attendance at Kris Jenner\u2019s star-studded birthday party on Nov. 8.<\/p>\n

\"Prince <\/p>\n

Prince Harry last saw his father in September during his visit to the U.K. (Chris Jackson\/Getty Images for Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023)<\/p>\n

“If they are going to go out and look like Hollywood players, it\u2019s at odds with what the palace and royal family members would do,” the source claimed, adding that the likelihood of the Sussexes getting a Christmas invite is “slim.”<\/p>\n

\"Prince <\/p>\n

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are seen here with Serena Williams (center) during the 2025 Baby2Baby Gala on Nov. 8, 2025 in West Hollywood, California. They went to Kris Jenner’s birthday party later in the evening. (Emma McIntyre\/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)<\/p>\n

British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that while the king misses his son, he wants to prioritize togetherness with those who\u2019ve stood by him most this year.<\/p>\n

“King Charles is planning a meaningful Christmas, emphasizing family traditions and creating lasting memories despite his ongoing cancer treatment,” said Chard.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The royals are seen here during their annual Christmas walk at Sandringham, circa 2023. (Samir Hussein\/WireImage\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“His health has been a concern, with recent hospitalizations, but he remains stoic and committed to royal duties. \u2026 His Christian faith is central to his celebrations, as he expresses gratitude for medical support and praises U.K. communities for their unity.”<\/p>\n

KING CHARLES AND QUEEN CAMILLA SHARE CHRISTMAS CARD AFTER YEAR OF FAMILY HEALTH BATTLES AND SCANDAL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Prince <\/p>\n

Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales, speaks during the fifth annual “Together At Christmas” carol service at Westminster Abbey in London on Dec. 5, 2025.\u00a0 (Aaron Chown \/ POOL \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“Prince William, Princess Catherine and their children are rallying around the king,” Chard said. “The family\u2019s Christmas will blend reflection and resilience, with a focus on faith, family and healing.”<\/p>\n

Kate Middleton, Charles\u2019 daughter-in-law, announced she had cancer in March 2024. In January, the mother of three revealed she was in remission.<\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive ahead of the state banquet for the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender at Windsor Castle on Dec. 3, 2025, in Windsor, England. (Aaron Chown – Pool\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“Princess Catherine and the king grew even closer due to their shared battle with cancer,” Fordwich said. “Seeing her glowing has been a huge inspiration for him. And seeing her be such a rock for Prince William,<\/a> being so devoted to their children and remaining scandal-free, is a huge relief.”<\/p>\n

\"Prince <\/p>\n

The Prince and Princess of Wales are seen here with their three children at Westminster Abbey in London on Dec. 5, 2025. They will be spending the holidays with the king at Sandringham. (Jordan Pettitt \/ POOL \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“He has appeared visibly waning,” she said. “He has lost quite a bit of weight. Yet he is bearing up well. Given all this, the king has proven to be rather resilient, with Camilla by his side at all times. She serves as his emotional anchor and protects him from his zealous work ethic, providing him with comic relief and loving companionship.”<\/p>\n

“Increasingly, Prince William has stepped up,” Fordwich continued. “That is of great comfort to the king. Ensuring continuity is paramount for the monarchy. With the monarchy safe in William\u2019s hands, the king can rest assured there will be a smooth succession in due course.”<\/p>\n

Fox News Digital’s Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! King Charles has left the door open for his “darling…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":628178,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7708],"tags":[13080,77,518,447,5105,7710,519,448],"class_list":{"0":"post-628177","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-royals","8":"tag-british-royals","9":"tag-entertainment","10":"tag-king-charles-iii","11":"tag-prince-harry","12":"tag-royal","13":"tag-royal-families","14":"tag-royal-family","15":"tag-royals"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115706304387227943","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/628177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=628177"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/628177\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/628178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=628177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=628177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=628177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}