King hosts rare family summit days before Harry's UK return

1 Jul 2026 • 9:36 PM MYT
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Senior members of the Royal Family convened at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Tuesday night for an uncommon private gathering hosted by the King and Queen Camilla.

The Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the Duke of Edinburgh joined the monarch at his official Scottish residence for what royal circles termed a "dine and sleep" occasion, according to reports in The Mail.

This intimate family dinner preceded today's Order of the Thistle service, the annual ceremony honouring Scotland's ancient order of chivalry.

Prince William travelled from Aberdeen, where he had attended a Homewards homelessness initiative engagement, to join his father in Edinburgh.

Image from: King hosts rare family summit days before Harry's UK return
King Charles | Source: GETTY

Princess Anne and Prince Edward had earlier accompanied the King at a garden party for local dignitaries at the historic Gothic Palace.

The timing of this family gathering carries particular significance given Prince Harry's impending and already contentious return to Britain this weekend.

As of Wednesday, Buckingham Palace has received no response from the Duke of Sussex regarding their offer of accommodation at a royal residence during his planned two-week stay.

Royal insiders are said to be weary of the ongoing drama surrounding the Sussexes, with the fallout from the visit generating considerable attention before it has even commenced.

Image from: King hosts rare family summit days before Harry's UK return
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Source: PA

The Palace has declined to comment on family relations, stating that any potential reunion would need to occur in private.

The Duke of Sussex's representatives have confirmed he intends to bring his wife Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to Britain for the first time in four years.

Harry has publicly expressed his wish to introduce his children to their grandfather, with Lilibet having met the King only once as an infant and Archie just a handful of times when very young.

The prince's team has also indicated plans for the children to visit the grave of their late grandmother, Diana, Princess of Wales, at Althorp, the Spencer family's ancestral estate.

Image from: King hosts rare family summit days before Harry's UK return
Princess Anne | Source: GETTY

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A full itinerary of public engagements has been shared with GB News and other selected media outlets.

The trip's viability was thrown into question last weekend when Harry's representatives announced he had only just discovered that Ravec, the Home Office body overseeing royal and diplomatic protection, had not examined his application for continuous security during UK visits.

This followed the duke's unsuccessful and costly legal challenge against the Home Office last year over the removal of his police protection after he stepped back from royal duties and relocated to North America.

Harry had requested the Home Secretary and committee reassess his risk status, claiming it remained unsafe to bring his family to Britain.

The announcement prompted confusion among royal observers, as his circumstances had apparently not changed since he publicised the visit.

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