King Charles hosted a grand state banquet at Windsor Castle on Tuesday night (July 8), welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte for a historic visit — the first official European state visit since Brexit.

Among the distinguished guests were Queen Camilla, Prince William, and the Princess of Wales. The evening featured a speech by the monarch, in which he highlighted centuries of diplomatic and cultural ties between the United Kingdom and France.

During the remarks, King Charles made a pointed reference to Windsor Castle’s Norman origins, linking its founder William the Conqueror to his own son and heir.

“This castle was begun by my ancestor William, Duke of Normandy, in 1070,” the King said. “So it is perhaps rather appropriate that my son, The Prince of Wales, who shares that earlier William’s name, has made Windsor his home with his family, like so many of our predecessors.”

Notably absent from the speech, however, was any mention of his younger son, Prince Harry.

Harry reportedly hoping to reconnect with royal family

The omission has drawn renewed attention to the ongoing tension between the Duke of Sussex and the royal family.

According to reports from Radar Online, Prince Harry is quietly exploring a return to the UK — and may be prepared to meet with members of the family without his wife, Meghan, in an effort to reset strained relationships.

“He’s starting to see that bringing Meghan into the conversation only complicates matters,” a source told the publication. “While it’s not an easy decision, he’s accepted that taking the first step alone might be necessary.”

The source added that Harry’s approach appears to mark a shift in tone. “He knows the way things unfolded before didn’t help. If reconciliation is going to happen, it has to look different this time.”

It’s understood that Prince Harry, who resides in California, still hopes to restore contact with his father. In a recent interview, he acknowledged that communication had broken down and confirmed they were no longer in regular touch.

While there has been no official comment from Buckingham Palace regarding any potential meetings or future visits, the King’s decision to single out Prince William in such a public way — without even a passing reference to Harry — suggests the divide remains unresolved.