Revealed: How 'Megxit' has deprived King Charles III of precious time with his grandchildren, as Lilibet celebrates her fourth birthday
It was one of the most iconic images of the late Queen Elizabeth's final years when she sat down for a picture with her ten great-grandchildren.
She had a look every proud grandmother would recognise as she smiled for the camera, surrounded on all sides by her family.
Sadly, it is a picture King Charles III might never have the opportunity to recreate, with two of his five grandchildren estranged on the other side of the Atlantic after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stood down as working royals in 2020.
In fact, this month marks three years since Charles met his granddaughter Lilibet in-person for the first and only time.
Lilibet - who turns four today - travelled to the UK along with her parents and brother in June 2022 for the late Queen's platinum jubilee.
Royal sources at the time said that the meeting was 'very emotional' for the then-Prince of Wales, but Charles and Camilla were 'absolutely thrilled' to have spent some time with both Archie and Lilibet.
However, despite the King's cancer diagnosis and Harry's suggestion that his father's health battle could lead to a reconciliation, a reunion between grandfather and grandchildren looks ever more unlikely.
In fact, the rift between Charles and Harry only appears to be widening.
Just last month, in a bombshell interview with the BBC, Harry claimed the Royal Family have 'zero trust' in him, his father 'won't speak to him' and that he doesn't 'know how much longer he [King Charles] has left'.
Harry also revealed he will not bring his wife or children back to the UK, indicating that Charles will be deprived of another meeting with Archie and Lilibet for the foreseeable future.
Just last year, a royal source claimed that Charles wanted to see the Sussexes' children more than just on the occasional video call.
Royal commentator Michael Cole told MailOnline in June 2024 that Charles feels the 'lack of closeness with his California grandchildren acutely', given his own childhood was affected by his parents' long absences on extensive tours of the Commonwealth.
The former BBC royal correspondent said the King 'looks as happy and as content as I have ever seen him' but his 'only regret is that he does not see Archie and Lilibet'.
He added that the two 'innocent young children' are growing up without any 'real contact' with the Royal Family.
Charles's almost complete lack of a relationship with Archie and Lilibet is in stark contrast to the one he shares with the Prince and Princess of Wales's three children.
The King's close and intimate relationship with George, Charlotte and Louis has been displayed to the world on multiple occasions.
During Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee, Charles stepped up to perform grandfather duties, keeping Louis entertained during the celebrations.
Harry and Meghan have said they will not bring their children back to the UK, indicating that Charles will be deprived of another meeting with Archie and Lilibet for the foreseeable future
The young prince was seen sat on his doting grandfather's lap with a large grin on his face.
From the balcony of Buckingham Palace at Trooping the Colour last year, Charles was seen chatting away to Princess Charlotte.
According to royal author Ingrid Seward, Charles has a 'very nice relationship with his granddaughter'.
Their close relationship was apparently put on show when the King wore what appeared to be a 'friendship bracelet', similar to one worn by Charlotte, on official engagements in 2023.
Charles has an equally good relationship with his eldest grandson, the future king, Prince George. According to Daily Mail columnist Robert Hardman, George calls Charles 'Grandpa Wales', similar to how the late Queen used to call her grandfather, George V, 'Grandpa England'.
It has previously been suggested that as George gets older, Charles could become a mentor to the young prince, preparing him to one day become king - echoing Elizabeth's own relationship with William.
Charles's lack of a relationship with his grandchildren across the pond will be felt acutely after his own childhood was affected by his parents' long absences on extensive Commonwealth tours - some lasting as long as six months.
In contrast to his own relationship with the late Prince Philip, which was reportedly somewhat distant during his childhood, the late Duke of Edinburgh was known to have had a very close relationship with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
After the death of Princess Diana, Philip took the young Prince William and Prince Harry under his wing to help them grieve the sudden loss of their mother.
Royal author Tina Brown wrote in her book The Diana Chronicles: 'A member of the Balmoral staff noted that Prince Philip, who had effectively lost his own mother at the age of ten when she was committed for three years to an asylum in Switzerland, was brilliantly effective with his grandsons, offering them gruff tenderness and outdoor activities like stalking and hiking to tire them out.'
Even in later life, Philip enjoyed warm relationships with much younger members of the Royal Family. In one particularly heartwarming picture, Philip could be seen chatting to Mike and Zara Tindall's daughter Mia outside a log cabin.
In his book The Good, The Bad & The Rugby - Unleashed, written with his podcast co-hosts James Haskell and Alex Payne, Mike revealed how the image perfectly encapsulated the Royal Family's annual getaways to Scotland.
He wrote: 'Lunch would often be heading out into the open space of the Scottish Highlands for a picnic.
'There's a great picture of my daughter Mia sitting with the Duke of Edinburgh that captures exactly what those afternoons were like: members of a very close family who loved each other dearly spending precious time together.'
Unfortunately for Charles, he is going to be deprived of such tender moments with Archie and Lilibet until his relationship with Harry radically improves.
And currently, that appears to be very far away for the 76-year-old King.
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