Prince Harry and Trump both in UK in September in big month for King Charles
While Harry has made it clear he wants to reconcile with his father, the King has been advised not to see him for fear his son will share any private family conversations on TV or in a new book.
Father and son have not met face-to-face since shortly after the King's cancer announcement in February 2024.
Harry's visit in two months' time is likely to take place a week before Donald Trump's big arrival here, so it's hard to see how King Charles's office wouldn't be able to make space in his diary to see his son.
The King could decide to make time or he could, as the Sussex team claimed on a previous occasion, decide to be 'too busy' to meet in person.
The Duke of Sussex is planning to return to the UK in early September for a series of British-based charity engagements.
The revelation that senior staff from both sides met in London last week does suggest there is movement in a positive direction.
The King's most senior communications official, Tobyn Andreae, met with Harry and Meghan's newly-appointed head of communications, Meredith Maines, on her first visit to the UK in her role.
Harry's UK-based PR man, Liam Maguire was also present at the meeting last Wednesday afternoon in one of London's private members' clubs in St James.
Sources in the Sussex camp said they were 'frustrated' that the meeting was leaked but both sides deny they tipped off the Mail on Sunday, which first ran the story.
Harry's most recent TV interview triggered a massive setback in the relationship with the King, as Harry spoke publicly about his father's cancer ('I don't know how long he has left'), which was viewed in Buckingham Palace as a gross invasion of the King's privacy.
But the meeting between the senior courtier from the palace and two staff from Harry and Meghan's office would only have happened with the express knowledge and authorisation of their bosses.
But King Charles' advisers will only allow him to meet his son if Harry pledges not to share details of private conversations about family or his own security arrangements when he's in the UK.
Harry should be back in California by the time President Trump lands in the UK for a visit, which has had the adjective 'unprecedented' written next to it more times than I care to count.
No US leader has been on a State Visit to the UK twice, but this is Donald Trump 2.0, and he was previously hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2019.
We now have the confirmed dates for the visit, 17-19 September, which means the logistics can start to be put in place.
As we saw with the French State Visit last week, these events are heavy on the detail; Anglo-French chefs, menus which reflect both countries, Kate wearing items by French designers, carriages, and speeches, even before the royals hand over to the politicians.
State Visits are arranged at the request of the government of the day, and the royals know they must put on a good show for the visitors, no matter what personal views they might have on their politics.
For example, King Charles and Donald Trump have vastly diverging views on climate change, so they will not discuss anything like that in public.
But the King knows his prime minister wants the best possible relationship with Mr Trump for economic reasons, and part of his constitutional duty is to host visiting heads of state.
Just as for the French visit, the American one will happen in Windsor as Buckingham Palace will still be out of action in September due to its major decade-long renovation project.
The Berkshire town will be braced for the consequences. Not just the crowds of tourists they've grown used to every day, but there are likely to be big protests during Mr Trump's stay at Windsor Castle.
The president however will greatly enjoy being guests of the Royal Family and the photographs which will accompany that moment.
Like his mother before him, Mr Trump is a big fan of the British Monarchy.
He had huge respect for the late Queen and he likes King Charles on a personal level.
So, it'll be wise for all concerned to make the most of the summer break, as September is shaping up to be a significant month, for both UK-US relations – and Royal Family relations - for many years to come.
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