King Charles has a great relationship with many of his family members, including his grandchildren, Prince George, Prince Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Sadly, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet live in California, on the other side of the globe, and their relationship with their grandfather is reportedly non-existent.

By all accounts, it appears as though King Charles won’t see his US-based grandchildren soon. Prince Harry has made it clear that he won’t bring his wife and children to the UK without getting the protection he feels is needed. To that end he has reportedly asked his father to help him arrange said protection, which the king – if rumors are to believed – is unable to do.

Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of ’emotional blackmailing’ the king by using their children to attain the aforementioned security, but Charles is said to be desperate to see Archie and Lilibet.

Now, a new report suggests that Harry’s children have become a central point in the ongoing feud between Charles and Harry, and may be the reason as to why the king won’t cut his son off entirely.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have put themselves in a tricky situation with the Royal Family. With all that has been said about the monarchy, it’s unsurprising that the likes of Prince Wiliam and Kate Middleton seem to want nothing to do with them.

However, one person who appears to still be at least ready to maintain a working good relationship with them is King Charles, and his motivations may well lie with his two grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

King Charles’ relationship with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet

The complicated relationship with Harry and Meghan has resulted in King Charles not being able to see his grandchildren in the US. As stated, Harry views bringing his family to the UK as a security risk as he can’t be promised the protection he feels is necessary.

“All it takes is for one lone actor who reads this stuff to act on what they’ve read. And whether it’s a knife or acid, these are things that are genuine concerns for me. It’s one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country,” Harry said in the ITV documentary Tabloids On Trial.

The question of the Sussexes’ security in the UK has been discussed for a long time now. Harry has fought it in court and is set to do so again in the near future.

According to People, Harry is preparing to appeal a court ruling that upheld the decision denying him state-funded security in the UK. An insider told the US news outlet that Harry wants his previous security rights reinstated, which in the long run would mean more flexibility when he, his wife, and their two children choose to visit the UK.

But though the matter of security is essential for Harry there is, sadly, another layer of importance it plays. According to a royal insider, speaking to People Magazine, whether Harry and his family get security when visiting the UK or not will play a crucial role in the Duke’s relationship with his father.

“Harry is frightened and feels the only person who can do anything about it is his father,” the royal insider told People.

Another source added: “Harry is determined to protect his own family at all costs.”

“A massive hole in his heart”

While the lack of protection has left Harry feeling unwilling to bring his wife and children to the UK, King Charles is heartbroken about not seeing his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet. A source close to the king even accused Harry of ’emotional blackmailing,’ adding that the Duke has pretty much threatened his father that he’ll never again meet Archie and Lilibet.

The source told the Daily Beast that Harry wants to pressure Charles into using his influence to help the Sussexes get increased security when visiting the UK —only time will tell whether or not this tactic has any chance of working.

That Harry feels he can’t bring his children to the UK due to security issues is, of course, saddening. The problem only becomes all the more tragic when looked at from King Charles’ perspective, as the king is effectively being prevented from seeing Archie and Lilibet.

To date the monarch has reportedly only met them a few times. The last time was years ago, meaning it’s unclear if the children (Archie is 5; Lilibet 3) even properly remember seeing their royal grandfather.

King Charles is said to be heartbroken about not having a relationship with Archie and Lilibet. Meanwhile, a US Weekly source said the non-existent bond with his US grandchildren has “left a massive hole in his heart that he’s only spent a few fleeting days with them and then video calls on important days.”

The source added that Charles has a very close relationship with Prince William and Kate Middleton’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, and that he “longs for the same relationship with his US-based grandkids.

While it’s heartbreaking that Charles, as a grandfather, can’t see his grandchildren, the question remains as to whether he could’ve made it more accessible.

King Charles “desperate to see” Archie & Lilibet

In June, royal expert Tom Quinn spoke with the Mirror, arguing that Charles’ eviction of Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage in 2023 following the release of Harry’s tell-all memoir Spare has made things even more difficult.

“King Charles would love to be closer to Harry and to have a relationship with his son that actually works,” Quinn said. “But this depends on Harry giving his father cast-iron guarantees that there will be no more books and no more embarrassing interviews.”