Prince Harry’s arrival in London on September 8 has reignited speculation of a royal reconciliation, as the Duke of Sussex quietly paid tribute to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Harry was spotted making a private visit to her grave on the third anniversary of her passing that coincided with his father, King Charles, marking the day hundreds of miles away in Scotland.
The King and Queen Camilla have chosen Balmoral Castle as their place of reflection, the same residence where the late Queen spent her final days.
The date carries a double significance for Charles, as September 8 also marks Accession Day, the moment he officially became monarch following his mother’s death.
The commemorations in Scotland have been steeped in tradition. On the eve of Accession Day, Charles and Camilla attended Sunday service at Crathie Kirk alongside U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, where prayers were offered both in memory of the late Queen and for Katherine, Duchess of Kent, who died on September 4.
Just days later, the royal couple stepped out for the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering, celebrating Scotland’s sporting and cultural heritage.
While Charles reflects in Balmoral and Harry retraces personal memories in London, the parallel tributes highlight the evolving and at times separate ways the royal family continues to honor Queen Elizabeth’s enduring legacy.
At the Braemar Gathering in Scotland, King Charles was seen in a kilt while Queen Camilla chose a green tartan outfit.
Both carried subtle signs of mourning for the late Duchess of Kent, with Charles wearing a black tie and Camilla a black armband in tribute to the wife of the King’s late cousin.
The Duke of Sussex’s trip to the U.K. will also see him attend the WellChild Awards in London, celebrating the bravery of seriously ill children, before traveling to Nottingham to announce a major donation to youth causes and spotlight local community programs.
His return has sparked renewed talk of a possible reconciliation with King Charles. A close friend told The Times that Harry “has not given up hope” of bringing his family back to the U.K. and wants to show his children where he grew up.
Yet royal experts remain divided. Author Tom Bower warned that a father son meeting could be “full of peril,” cautioning that Harry “could sabotage everything and embarrass him enormously.”
Others believe the King’s personal wish to mend fences may prevail. Former royal butler Grant Harrold told GB News, “I know what the King’s like.
He likes everyone to be happy... So you can guarantee the King without question wants it resolved.”