Prince Charles heartbroken that he's missing out on watching Archie grow up

With the royal family facing another UK lockdown and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle staying firmly rooted in the US, a royal reunion in 2020 is looking unlikely.

There was talk that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would return to the UK in early 2021 to attend Meghan's tabloid court case trial, but even those plans have been pushed back.

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Now it seems the Sussexes won't be reunited with the rest of the royals until September or October of 2021.

The news has left one senior royal particularly heartbroken; Prince Charles.

According to sources close to the royal family, Charles is devastated that he won't see his grandson Archie until late next year.

It's been months since the Prince of Wales last saw his youngest grandson, and Charles is reportedly struggling with the knowledge they won't be reunited for almost another year.

"The Prince of Wales enjoyed popping into Frogmore Cottage to see his youngest grandchild and is sad that he hasn't seen him for so long," a source told the Daily Mail.

"He has missed much of his development since he is now growing up in the USA."

Since Harry and Meghan's move to the US, none of the royal family have been able to visit Archie, who turned one in May.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, visits across the pond have been off the table for both the Sussexes and their royal relatives in the UK.

While Charles is feeling Archie's absence especially keenly, the other royals are also hurt that he's growing up so far away, according to reports.

"Other members of the family are very sad at not seeing him. Everyone really misses Archie – they feel it's particularly sad for the Queen and Prince Philip," the source added.

"Harry always said he looked forward to raising his family with William's – which of course is not now happening."

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But it's not just physical distance keeping the brothers from raising their children alongside one another.

Talk of a rift between the princes has been rife for months, with speculation that William's focus on the monarchy and initial hesitance about Harry's relationship with Meghan is to blame.

Some royal experts have blamed the "feud" on Harry's royal exit, however, saying he abandoned the royal family and his brother along with it.

Now there are fears that the Sussexes continued absence and delayed plans to return to the UK will only widen the gap between them and the royals.