Why King Charles Is Reportedly Not Seeing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle During His US Trip

King Charles III may be stepping onto American soil soon, but he reportedly has no plans to see his son, Prince Harry.

The sovereign, 77, and his wife, Queen Camilla, arrive in Washington, D.C., for their state visit on Monday, April 27, and will head to New York City on Wednesday for the day, then return to D.C. on Thursday before leaving the country, per the BBC.

During his time in NYC, Charles will host a reception for the King’s Trust in the evening. However, the Duke of Sussex, 41, will not be in attendance, Rob Shuter reported in the Monday edition of his Naughty But Nice Substack, citing multiple insiders who revealed what’s going on behind the scenes.

“Anna [Wintour] and Martha [Stewart] made the guest list,” a source shared. “Harry and Meghan [Markle] did not.”

According to Shuter, there were discussions about Charles and Harry having a private meeting in NYC, but after the Sussexes’ “quasi-royal” four-day visit to Australia, that was no longer the case.

“That trip killed it,” the source explained. “The palace saw the optics and pulled back fast.”

The source alleged Harry “wants the meeting for all the wrong reasons,” noting “the palace wants distance.”

“Harry’s concern isn’t family. It’s branding,” the source claimed. “Harry standing beside the King instantly looks official. One photo, one handshake, and suddenly he’s back looking tied to the Crown.”

As for what Buckingham Palace is worried about, “The fear is simple: Harry doesn’t just get a private moment with his father — he gets fresh royal legitimacy,” the source noted.

As Examiner previously reported, the Spare author and the With Love, Meghan star, 44, stepped down as working royals in 2020 and eventually moved their lives to California. Despite a family rift, Harry and Charles finally ended their 19-month estrangement in September 2025.