King Charles chooses Highgrove House for intimate reunion with Harry, Meghan and grandchildren
King Charles III finally met with Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet after a four-year hiatus without seeing them in person, opting for one of his most significant properties for the family reception.
The monarch, 77, and Queen Camilla, 78, welcomed Prince Harry and his family to Highgrove House on Friday, July 10. This private residence of Charles, located in Gloucestershire, was the location chosen for an intimate and completely private meeting.
There are no expectations for the release of photographs or specific details about the royal family meeting. However, it was reported that Meghan and the children arrived in the UK after a European holiday the night before the meeting.
The choice of Highgrove to hold the meeting carried special meaning. Known as Charles’ favorite rural retreat, the property offered the Duke and Duchess of Sussex a discreet environment, far from the attention of the media and the hustle and bustle of the British capital.
Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, had changed their original plans to visit the United Kingdom with their children due to an impasse with the palace regarding the security conditions offered to the family. The Duke of Sussex previously said he does not feel safe taking his wife and children to the country without state-funded protection, a benefit he and Meghan lost after stepping back from their royal duties in 2020.
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For this reason, Harry initially traveled alone to London, where he attended engagements related to WellChild and the Invictus Games. He was later reunited with Meghan, 7-year-old Archie and 5-year-old Lilibet in a private moment.
In this scenario, Highgrove proved to be a strategic option for the match. Located in the English countryside, the residence allowed the Sussexes to avoid exposure in the British capital, where security concerns had generated complications throughout the week.
The property’s position also simplified logistics. After fulfilling commitments in Birmingham for the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games, Harry was less than two hours’ drive from Highgrove. The site is also close to Althorp House, Princess Diana’s former home and where her memorial is located, a point that was part of the family’s plans during their stay in the United Kingdom.
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Charles also had easy access to the location, commuting to Highgrove after completing his commitments in Oxfordshire, approximately an hour away.
In addition to convenience, the property provided something that official residences in London could hardly guarantee: complete privacy. King Charles has always considered Highgrove his personal sanctuary and, since acquiring the property in 1980, he has transformed its gardens into a UK landscaping landmark.
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Receiving Harry, Meghan and their grandchildren there provided a more relaxed and protected atmosphere, away from the formality and intense public interest often associated with royal palaces.
Highgrove also evokes significant memories for Harry. In his autobiography, “Spare”, the Duke recalled that he and his brother, Prince William, enjoyed a special space on the property during their adolescence: the basement of the house, called “Club H”.
The old bomb shelter, adapted and named after Highgrove, became a refuge for the brothers. Harry reported that the space was where they spent time together and entertained friends on weekends.
“Club H was the perfect hiding place for a teenager, but especially for this teenager. When I wanted peace, Club H gave it to me. When I wanted to get messy, Club H was the safest place to do it. When I wanted solitude, what could be better than a bomb shelter in the English countryside?”, wrote the Duke of Sussex in his memoirs, published in 2023.
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“Willy felt the same way”, added Harry when referring to his brother, with whom he has a distant relationship and, according to reports, should not meet during his current visit to the United Kingdom.
