King Charles’ bittersweet plans on grandson Prince Archie’s birthday revealed

The dates for King Charles’ 2026 Garden Parties have been confirmed – and the special celebrations will be kicking off on his grandson Prince Archie’s birthday.

This summer, three Garden Parties will take place in the Buckingham Palace Garden, as well as one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, celebrating frontline workers from across the United Kingdom.

The Parties will recognise the dedication and contribution of those who serve their communities through volunteering, supporting charitable causes and working for emergency services, with a particular focus on this at the first Garden Party of the season, which happens to fall on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son’s birthday.

Other Garden Party dates include 8 May and 12 May at Buckingham Palace, as well as a special event to recognise ex-service personnel at The Not Forgotten Association Annual Garden Party, held on 19 May at the royal residence. This will be followed by a fourth Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on 30 June.

Bittersweet date

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The date of the first Garden Party will no doubt be a bittersweet one for Charles, who has had limited contact with his grandson since Prince Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals and moved to the US in 2020.

While he spent time with the little boy before then, their last-known meeting was during the Late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in London in 2022, where he also met Princess Lilibet for the first time.

Last year, Harry gave a bombshell interview to the BBC, expressing his wish to reconcile with his family.

© POOL/AFP via Getty Images

He said: “I would love reconciliation with my family, there’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious, I don’t know how much longer my father has, he won’t speak to me because of this security stuff.”

However, he conceded that any reconciliation would be in his family’s hands, adding: “If they don’t want that, that’s entirely up to them.”

The seeds were sown for a future reconciliation when Harry met his father for a ‘private tea’ at Clarence House in London last September. It is not known what was discussed, but Harry was pictured departing after roughly an hour spent in the monarch’s company.

Archie’s birthday plans

Archie will be turning seven on 6 May, and usually spends his birthday in Montecito with his sister Lilibet, four, and his parents. Last year, Harry was forced to miss his son’s big day due to flying to Vegas for a charity event, launching a new youth initiative with the Diana Award.

Meghan shared an insight into what the family got up to, posting a photograph of her son wearing striped pyjamas as he watched the sun set and revealing that they had enjoyed a private party before Harry’s departure.

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“Our son. Our sun. Happy 6th birthday to Archie! Thank you for all of the love, prayers, and warm wishes for our sweet boy. He’s six! Where did the time go? (And for all of you who came to celebrate with us at his party last weekend, thank you for making his birthday so incredibly special,” she enthused in the caption.