King Charles III is reportedly deeply saddened by the distance between himself and his estranged son, 

Prince Harry, and the resulting lack of relationship with his grandchildren, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. 

According to royal expert Jennie Bond, this situation has left the monarch heartbroken, as he has little to no connection with his youngest grandchildren, who live in the United States.

Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from their royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California, 

the couple’s relationship with the royal family has become increasingly strained. 

This distance has meant that King Charles, now 76, rarely sees his grandchildren and hardly knows them personally.

Royal commentator Jennie Bond expressed her thoughts on the matter, highlighting the sadness the King must feel. “It must remain a great sadness to the king to be so distant from his two US-based grandchildren. He hardly knows them, and there’s no prospect of that changing anytime soon,” Bond told *The Mirror*. She went on to note the significance of the early years in a child’s life, saying, “The early years in a child’s life are so magical — and once they’re gone, they’re gone.” She speculated that the King might feel a profound sense of loss over this situation, although she hopes he doesn’t dwell on it too much.

While King Charles has seen his grandson Archie a few times, his interactions with his granddaughter Lilibet have been even more limited. The only time he has met Lilibet was during the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. This brief meeting, along with a handful of encounters with Archie, is all the personal connection the King has had with his son’s children so far.

Behind the scenes, it’s possible that Prince Harry and Meghan have sent pictures of their children to King Charles, though the royal family’s interactions with the couple are not widely publicized. Bond suggested that the King may be making efforts to build a relationship with his grandchildren despite the estrangement, but the reality of the situation remains difficult.

In addition to King Charles, Meghan Markle’s estranged father, Thomas Markle Sr., has also expressed his desire to meet his grandchildren. Similar to the King, Thomas has been largely excluded from his daughter Meghan’s life and has never met either Archie or Lilibet. Thomas Markle Sr. has been vocal about his longing to meet his grandchildren, but his repeated requests for a connection have been met with silence from the Sussexes. 

Thomas has faced significant health struggles in recent years and, in a deeply emotional moment, made a “deathbed plea” to his daughter in April 2023, urging her to reach out to him. “I’ve never been one for birthdays, but I know the one person I most want to hear from, Meghan, won’t be in touch,” he said in a statement to the *Daily Mail* before his 80th birthday in July 2024. He went on to express his wish for a simple photograph of his grandchildren, stating, “I would love to meet my grandchildren, but I would be happy with a photograph at this stage.” Thomas also remarked, “They have two grandpas who want to see them, one of whom is the King of England. I never in my 80 years thought I’d be in the same boat as the king.”

The situation is particularly poignant, as both King Charles and Thomas Markle Sr. find themselves in a unique position of wanting to build a connection with their grandchildren but facing resistance from the parents, Harry and Meghan. While both men express a deep desire to meet their grandchildren, it seems that this wish may remain unfulfilled for the time being. 

The public expressions of longing from both King Charles and Thomas Markle underscore the emotional toll that the strained relationships have taken on family members. Despite the royal family’s longstanding duty to uphold traditions and the monarchy, it’s clear that the personal struggles of King Charles and other family members have been heavily influenced by the distance between them and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

As the situation continues to evolve, it remains uncertain whether Prince Harry and Meghan will seek to reconcile with the royal family and allow more opportunities for the King and others to build a relationship with their children. For now, King Charles and Thomas Markle will likely continue to wait for a chance to bridge the gap with their estranged grandchildren.

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