King Charles ‘Excited’ by Archie and Lilibet’s UK Return — After Missing Years of His Grandchildren Growing Up

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to Britain could give King Charles something he has reportedly wanted for years: the chance to become a much bigger presence in the lives of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

One week after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex relocated to the UK with seven-year-old Archie and five-year-old Lilibet, a former royal butler has suggested the King will be particularly pleased to finally have his grandchildren living much closer.

Grant Harrold, who worked for Charles for six years when he was Prince of Wales, believes the move could transform a relationship that has largely been shaped by distance.

“Like any grandparent, the King will be very excited to have Archie and Lilibet close again,” Harrold said.

Charles ‘hasn’t had a chance to really see them grow up’

Harry and Meghan spent much of their children’s early lives based thousands of miles away in California.

That geographical separation meant Charles had relatively few opportunities to watch his grandchildren grow up in person.

According to Harrold, that is likely to have been difficult for the King.

“He hasn’t had a chance to really see them grow up, so he will be very happy to play a larger role in their lives,” the former royal butler told the Daily Express on behalf of Press Box PR.

Harrold believes Charles would never have wanted to become a distant figure in Archie and Lilibet’s childhood.

“I imagine it’s been very hard for him to know how much he’s missed out on,” he said. “He would never have wanted to be an absent grandparent.”

‘His family means a lot to him’

Harrold worked for Charles until 2011 and witnessed both the public and private sides of the future monarch.

Although he has not worked for the King for 15 years, he believes the Charles he knew would place considerable importance on rebuilding those family connections.

“He’s a very caring man and his family means a lot to him,” Harrold said.

Whatever difficulties remain between Charles and Harry, he believes the King would want those issues separated from his relationship with the children.

“All things aside, he would want to play an active role in his grandchildren’s lives,” Harrold continued.

“He wouldn’t want them growing up having questions, so this move is very important to the King.”

The Sussexes have begun a new life in Britain

Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, returned to the UK with Archie and Lilibet last week.

The family reportedly arrived by private jet in Birmingham before travelling by car to their new home.

Its exact location has not been revealed for security reasons, although it is understood to be outside London.

Harry and Meghan are believed to be privately renting the property rather than having moved into a royal residence.

Their children have reportedly been enrolled in a nearby school as the family begins establishing a routine in Britain.

However, their move does not represent a complete departure from the United States.

The Sussexes are retaining their mansion in Montecito, California.

Charles has reportedly not seen them since their arrival

Despite the significance of the family’s return, Charles is not believed to have met with Harry, Meghan, Archie or Lilibet since they arrived in Britain.

The King has also made no public statement about their relocation.

That means Harrold’s assessment reflects his own understanding of Charles rather than an official account of the monarch’s feelings.

Still, the prospect of greater contact with Archie and Lilibet could become one of the most personally significant consequences of the Sussexes’ decision.

The children spent most of their lives in California after Harry and Meghan stepped away from senior royal duties.

Having them in the same country dramatically changes the practical obstacles that previously limited contact with their grandfather.

The move does not signal a return to royal duties

Harry and Meghan’s relocation has also prompted speculation about whether they could resume any formal role within the monarchy.

There is currently no indication that will happen.

Their UK return will not see the couple become working royals again.

Instead, Harry and Meghan are expected to continue living privately while pursuing their own interests.

The precise reason for their decision to relocate has not been confirmed.

Some reports have suggested Harry wanted to be geographically closer to his father, while separate speculation has linked Meghan with possible acting work in Britain.

Neither explanation has been publicly confirmed by the Sussexes as the definitive reason for the move.

A chance to recover years that cannot be repeated

Whatever prompted Harry and Meghan to return, the effect on Charles’ relationship with his grandchildren could be profound.

Archie was born in Britain in 2019, but the Sussexes relocated to North America while he was still very young.

Lilibet was subsequently born in California in 2021.

As a result, Charles has missed much of the ordinary contact a grandfather might otherwise have enjoyed during their early childhood.

Those years cannot be recovered.

But with Archie and Lilibet now living in Britain, Harrold believes Charles finally has an opportunity to become a more active part of their lives.

The tensions surrounding Harry’s relationship with the Royal Family have not disappeared, and the King has given no public indication of what happens next.

Yet behind the wider royal drama is a considerably simpler family story.

A grandfather who has watched two of his grandchildren grow up largely from a distance may finally have the opportunity to know them properly.