King Charles adopts softer stance toward Harry and Meghan to avoid Windsor mistakes
King Charles has shown a more compassionate approach toward Harry and Meghan since their 2020 exit, highlighted by a July visit to Highgrove where he saw his grandchildren for the first time in four years.
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been met with a noticeably kinder attitude from King Charles, exemplified by a private afternoon at Highgrove House that reunited him with grandchildren Archie and Lilibet after more than four years. Historian Andrew Lownie explains that the king’s compassion is intended to avoid the historic mistake of ostracising the Duke of Windsor following Edward VIII’s 1936 abdication.
The Sussexes’ recent return to Britain and their upcoming trips have prompted the monarch to quietly support Harry’s Invictus Games charity, even smoothing over Uganda’s brief withdrawal from the event. Lownie cautions that excessive conciliation could be perceived as capitulation, contrasting with Prince William’s more stringent approach to family issues. The article also revisits the Windsor abdication’s legacy, including the former king’s Nazi-era connections and the long-standing ban on his return to the UK.
Why it matters
The king’s handling of Harry and Meghan’s return could shape public opinion of the monarchy and its future relevance.
How this story developed
- Sep 14 Meghan and Harry to undergo government security review as they return to the UK
- Sep 15 Ravec has asked the couple to provide detailed daily‑routine information for the risk assessment.
- Sep 17 The children were transferred to a different school after two days due to safety and privacy concerns.
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