After the Royal Family sent birthday wishes to Prince Harry, many saw it as an olive branch from his father King Charles but one expert says a previous birthday phone call left the monarch ‘really disappointed’

Prince Harry’s imminent trip to the UK has left many wondering whether a meeting with his estranged father King Charles could be on the cards.

It has been officially announced that in his role as patron of the WellChild charity, the Duke of Sussex will be attending its annual awards ceremony in London later this month on September 30. And his trip will come just weeks after the royals made the surprise move of sending public birthday wishes to Harry when he turned 40 last week.

Much has been made of the relationship between father and son, especially in the aftermath of the release of Harry’s controversial memoir Spare, where he railed against his family and revealed things about them in some of their most private moments.

On the Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential show, royal editor Rebecca English says that Charles remains angry but will always be open to reconciliation with his son. However, when wondering whether the pair spoke when Harry turned 40, she said the aftermath of a phone call left the King “really disappointed”.

She explained: “Charles is angry and he is hurt but he is still his son at the end of the day, which is why it’s always been said as much as he is keeping distance at the moment, he will never entirely shut that door to him.

“One thing I did find out is how really disappointed the King was back in November when Harry did call him to wish him not just a happy 75th birthday but also his children did a little video singing happy birthday to the grandpa they barely even see.