The family drama lurking in the background of King Charles' historic US tour

OPINION -- Across the next four days, King Charles will be in the United States and the closest – in distance – he has been to Prince Harry in months.

The monarch's historic state visit to America is being carried out on behalf of the British government at a time when ties between the two countries are at their most strained.

One of Charles' unofficial tasks while in Washington D.C. is to act as a mediator of sorts using the soft diplomacy of a royal visit, but some observers are more captivated by another fractured relationship – that of father and son.

The question of whether the King will see the Duke of Sussex this week is one dominating commentary surrounding the state visit.

They last met, face to face, in September for tea at Clarence House in London, which lasted less than an hour.

There is also interest in whether the monarch would use his time in the US to see his two young grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

The King last saw Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, in June 2022 when the Sussexes travelled to the UK for the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and their children, live in Montecito in California – on the other side of the country from where the King and Queen will be this week.

Similar commentary about a family reunion arose when the Prince and Princess of Wales were in Boston for the Earthshot Prize awards in 2022.

For those hoping of a reunion between Prince Harry and his father, they are likely to be disappointed.

King Charles is not expected to see his son, or his grandchildren, during his visit to the US.

Multiple sources, including the BBC, suggest the monarch simply does not have time during such a high-level visit.

A state visit – the highest level of a foreign royal tour – is one that is bound by strict protocol, deadlines and very tight schedules. Every engagement is planned to the minute and free time is almost non-existent.

Duty comes first. Family, second.

Prince Harry and Meghan are no longer working royals and have no business joining the King and Queen for any part of their tour in Washington, New York or Virginia.

The King and Queen's time on American soil will centre around diplomacy, formality, pomp and ceremony and engagements celebrating the US-UK alliance, done at the request of the foreign office.

In contrast, Prince Harry and Meghan recently carried out four-day visit to Australia which replicated that of a royal tour without any of the formality and government involvement – they travelled here in service of themselves and not as representatives of the Crown.

Buckingham Palace has not commented on any potential meeting between father and son and nor are they likely to.

In late March, when the US visit was announced, a source close to the Sussexes swiftly told People magazine Prince Harry wouldn't be seeking a meeting with the King.

"Harry knows how things are and wouldn't ask for that either under these circumstances," a source told the magazine.

Prince Harry has previously said he would "love" to reconcile with his father and the rest of his family, including Prince William.

"There's no point in continuing to fight anymore," Harry told the BBC in May last year.

"Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has. He won't speak to me because of this security stuff. But it would be nice to reconcile."

Prince Harry is expected to return to the UK in July to launch the one-year countdown event to the next Invictus Games, to be held in Birmingham in 2027.

He is wanting to bring Meghan, who has been at every other major Invictus event since 2017.

If his ongoing security issues are sorted by then, it could pave the way for Prince Harry to bring Archie and Lilibet to the UK.

And that is when they might reunite with their grandfather.

That scenario is more likely than a catch up in the US where Harry and his children currently are.

King Charles has Donald Trump to keep him busy this week.

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