King Charles III is reportedly struggling with deep personal regret over his fractured relationship with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their children Archie and Lilibet, as the monarch continues treatment for cancer and faces renewed scrutiny over the royal family's widening divide.
The latest claims emerged from royal commentator Duncan Larcombe, who told The Mirror that Charles's health battle has intensified his awareness of time lost with his California-based grandchildren. The comments arrive after a series of high-profile royal events, including the King's recent state visit to the United States, once again highlighted the physical and emotional distance between Buckingham Palace and the Sussex household in Montecito.
"I think King Charles is full of regret over the whole situation, he definitely wouldn't have wanted it to go this way," Larcombe told The Mirror.
The sense of family separation has become more visible as Archie, now seven, and four-year-old Lilibet continue to grow up largely outside royal life. Charles remains publicly close to Prince William's children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - regularly appearing alongside them at balcony appearances, ceremonies and family celebrations.
By contrast, Archie and Lilibet have only rarely been seen with the King since Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California.
Charles has previously spoken warmly about being a grandfather. Reflecting on family life years before the Sussex split, he once said: "The great thing is to encourage them. Show them things to take their interest. My grandmother did that, she was wonderful. It is very important to create a bond when they are very young."
That quote has taken on new resonance as Charles undergoes treatment for an undisclosed cancer diagnosis first revealed by Buckingham Palace in 2024. While palace officials have said the King has reduced some treatment this year, few details about his long-term prognosis have been released publicly.
The monarchy's strained personal dynamics resurfaced during Charles and Queen Camilla's recent four-day trip to Washington, New York and Virginia. The visit included meetings with President Donald Trump and commemorative events tied to the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence.
The King, however, did not visit Harry, Meghan or their children during the U.S. trip, despite traveling across the Atlantic. The decision triggered criticism online and renewed speculation about the state of family relations behind palace walls.
One social media user wrote: "He'll visit a felon but not his son and grandchildren. How on-brand for him."
Royal commentator Richard Palmer told The Mirror there had once been cautious optimism about repairing the relationship after Harry and Meghan briefly returned to Britain during Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
A senior royal figure, Palmer said, made it "very plain that the King was thrilled to spend time with his grandchildren." Yet hopes "that things could be improved" were later undermined because "there've been quite a few setbacks since then."
The most recent in-person meeting between Charles and Harry reportedly took place in September 2025 at Clarence House, where the two shared tea and exchanged gifts. Royal observers viewed the meeting as a tentative attempt at reconciliation after years of public conflict fueled by Harry's memoir Spare, television interviews and criticism of royal life.
At the center of the tension remains an unresolved question about identity and role. Harry and Meghan built their post-royal life around independence from palace control, signing major commercial deals and establishing a California-based media and lifestyle brand. Yet the couple's continued association with royal titles, combined with periodic UK visits and charitable appearances, has kept them tethered to the institution they left behind.
Attention is now turning toward the 2027 Invictus Games launch preparations, with Harry and Meghan expected to travel to Britain later this year. It remains unclear whether Archie and Lilibet will accompany them.
