Prince Harry Slams ‘Categorically False’ Claims About King Charles Reunion in Rare Statement

Prince Harry has denied claims that his recent meeting with King Charles left him feeling like an “official visitor” rather than a family member, calling the report “categorically false.”

A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex, 41, told PEOPLE on Sept. 27 that recent coverage — including a report by The Sun on Sept. 26 — portraying the Sept. 10 reunion at Clarence House as “distinctly formal” was inaccurate.

“Recent reporting of The Duke’s view of the tone of the meeting is categorically false,” the spokesperson said. “The quotes attributed to him are pure invention fed, one can only assume, by sources intent on sabotaging any reconciliation between father and son. Presumably, those same sources have also chosen to disclose that gifts were exchanged.”

The spokesperson confirmed that Harry presented his father with a framed photograph, clarifying that it did not include Harry or Meghan Markle.

“While we would have preferred such details to remain private, for the sake of clarity, we can confirm that a framed photograph was handed over; however, the image did not contain the Duke and Duchess,” the spokesperson added.

The picture reportedly featured only the King’s grandchildren, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, whom Harry has not seen in over three years.

A spokesperson for The Sun responded, stating: “In his statement, Prince Harry confirms the exchange of gifts, including a family photograph. The office of the Duke of Sussex was given full right of reply yesterday in advance of publication and opted not to give a response to The Sun’s carefully sourced account of the meeting. We have today updated the online article to include his new statement.”

The reunion on Sept. 10 at Clarence House in London marked the first time Harry and King Charles met in person since February 2024. The private tea lasted approximately 55 minutes.

Prince Harry’s statement follows claims from The Sun that he felt more like an “official visitor” than a family member and described the reunion as “very official, like an official visit.”

The meeting took place during Harry’s visit to the U.K. in early September and represents a meaningful step in rebuilding the father-son relationship after more than a year apart.

Maintaining privacy around the meeting is a priority for Harry, who has not publicly discussed the visit. Observers of the family dynamic are watching closely to see what happens next.

“If we hear nothing, there will be another meeting. If we hear something, it will be a very long time before there is one,” Robert Hardman, author of The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy, told PEOPLE.

Harry briefly commented on the reunion while attending a reception in London for supporters of his adaptive sports competition, the Invictus Games. When asked about his father, he replied, “Yes, he’s great, thank you.”

He also told The Guardian in the days following the reunion that over the coming year “the focus really has to be on my dad.”

The Duke of Sussex and King Charles have been estranged amid family tensions and legal disputes, including a battle over security for Harry, Meghan, and their children. Harry lost his appeal earlier this year.

In May, Harry told the BBC that he sought “reconciliation” with his father, though he said the monarch “won’t speak to me.”

Their latest meeting, however, signals progress. “It’s a massive step in the right direction,” Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary Ailsa Anderson told PEOPLE. “It’s a building of trust.”