For a brief moment, King Charles III appeared to be reaching out to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in a very public manner.
As the new King of England, His Majesty held his first weekly audience with Prime Minister Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace, a little gesture caught the attention of many.
Per the custom held by all Monarchs, including the late Queen Elizabeth II, The Sovereign had a session with the Prime Minister to discuss political matters involving the country.
While The Monarch has to remain apolitical, just like Queen Elizabeth, he can “advise and warn” the minister.
The British royal family’s website states: “Though The Queen remains politically neutral on all matters, she is able to ‘advise and warn’ her ministers — including her Prime Minister — when necessary.”
A video shared online revealed that after Prime Minister Liz Truss entered the room, she followed protocol by doing a curtsy before shaking hands with King Charles.
His Majesty muttered a few words that led to many headlines. Truss said: “Your Majesty.” King Charles replied: “So you’ve come back again?”
Truss then answered: “It’s a great pleasure.” King Charles added: “Dear, oh dear. Anyway …”
NEW: The King held his first weekly audience with the Prime Minister @trussliz at Buckingham Palace this evening pic.twitter.com/1nmTBAzlLJ
— Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) October 12, 2022
However, what really captivated the media was the photos that were prominently displayed on a very regal piece of furniture.
King Charles made sure the world could see a gorgeous photo taken at Prince Harry and Markle’s lavish 2018 royal wedding.
The image features the bride and groom surrounded by multiple family members, including Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, King Charles, and Queen Camilla.
Meghan Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, Kate Middleton, along with her daughter, Princess Charlotte, and husband Prince William are also present in the bridal portrait.
King Charles also displayed a memorable family photo featuring Queen Elizabeth with the heirs to the British throne — then-Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince George.
The special photo of four generations was taken during Christmas 2019.
Many royal observers say the photo of Prince Harry and Markle being front and center in King Charles’s office is a sign that tension between the parties is finally dying down.
King Charles wants to set the record straight — he loves his son and daughter-in-law, and they are very much parts of the royal family despite their disagreements.
Several reliable sources revealed that King Charles left Prince Harry and Markle frustrated with the confusion that he had created with the titles for their two young children, who are supposed to be known as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Prince Harry’s little ones were supposed to get the titles immediately after their grandfather ascended the throne, but he is using it as leverage to force Prince Harry to remove all negative revelations in his memoir and docuseries.
The Times royal editor Roya Nikkhah wrote that the indecision has created “heightening tensions” between King Charles and Prince Harry.
A source confirmed to The Sun: “Harry and Meghan were worried about the security issue and being prince and princess brings them the right to have certain levels of royal security. There have been a lot of talks over the past week. But they have been left furious that Archie and Lilibet cannot take the title HRH. That is the agreement – they can be prince and princess but not HRH because they are not working royals.”
King Charles might have asked for the placement of the photo to calm down nerves due to the date of his coronation, which is on Archie’s birthday.
Prince Harry and Markle’s invitation to the coronation is still up in the air.
