Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have shared private family pictures with their children after visiting Princess Diana's childhood home and final resting place, Althorp estate, during their summer holiday in the UK.
Family reunion with King Charles
The Sussexes arrived in the UK for their summer break, with Harry landing days before to launch the one-year countdown to his Invictus Games in Birmingham. Meghan and the children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, secretly flew out to join him. According to reports, the family also reunited with King Charles at Highgrove House, marking the first time in four years the children had seen their grandfather.
Visit to Althorp estate
The summer holiday included a visit to the Althorp estate, the family home of the late Princess Diana. People reported: 'The trip gave Archie and Lilibet the opportunity to spend time at a place so closely tied to their late grandmother, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 when Harry was 12.' Harry appeared to be carrying bouquets, suggesting they paid tribute at Diana's burial site. Her grave is on an island in the middle of Oval Lake but is off limits to the public, with a lakeside memorial for visitors. The estate was closed to the public from July 10 to 11, presumably to allow the family privacy.
Shared family moments
Meghan shared a picture of Lilibet walking in the sunshine between trees, with Harry and Archie a few paces ahead. Other photos showed the family at a beach, speculated to be near their newly renovated Portugal home, as Meghan also posted about a Portuguese restaurant. Their villa is reportedly near Princess Eugenie's £3.6 million property. The children face away from the camera in all snaps, maintaining their privacy. In one picture, Harry playfully throws Lilibet into a pool; in another, he runs with the kids towards waves as Meghan watches. Archie appears as a plane enthusiast, pictured in a cockpit with a captain's hat. Meghan also shared happy pictures of herself and Harry laughing at the dinner table.
No photos from royal meeting
None of the pictures appear to be from the time spent with the King and Queen, where the family reportedly spent over an hour. It was unclear if that reunion would happen, as initial reports claimed Meghan and the children would not come to the UK due to security concerns. A source said before the reunion: 'The hope is they can meet their grandfather. But there is no way that can happen if they are chased by paparazzi wherever they go from the moment they step off the plane.'
Background of estrangement
In mid-May, insiders said Harry wants to make amends with his family and spend time at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, a royal retreat since 1852, to allow his children to build memories with their grandfather. Harry has been estranged from his father, Charles, and brother, Prince William, since he and Meghan stepped down as senior royals in 2020. The children had not seen the King in person since 2022, during Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee weekend.
