The exchange felt fitting: Charles is an avid watercolorist whose paintings often feature royal residences such as Balmoral Castle and Windsor Castle, so a child’s portrait likely struck a personal chord.
Observers noted the encounter came just over two weeks after the King reunited with his California-based grandchildren. On July 10, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their children visited Highgrove House to see Charles and Queen Camilla. PEOPLE reported that visit followed public disagreements about security and arrangements; it was the third meeting between Harry and Charles since the King’s 2024 cancer diagnosis and the first time the monarch had met Archie and Lilibet since 2022. A royal author told PEOPLE the reunion reminded many that the royals are a family, while sources cited ongoing planning and security complications and said Meghan felt humiliated by the public dispute but remained supportive of Harry.