Harry and Charles hold private Clarence House tea amid rift

Prince Harry met privately with his father, King Charles III, in London on Wednesday for what officials and aides described as a short, emotional tea at the monarchs Clarence House residence, a meeting that most accounts said lasted just under an hour. The encounter, the first face to face between the two men in roughly 19 months, came amid a four day visit to the United Kingdom by the Duke of Sussex and preceded a surprise trip he made to Kyiv to meet wounded service members.

Details of the meeting were scant from official channels. A spokesperson for the duke said he had enjoyed being back in the UK and was glad to support the causes that matter to him. Reported timings for the private discussion varied slightly across accounts, but most placed it at about 50 to 55 minutes. Some insiders said the reunion was warm, involving hugs and tears, and was prompted by a handwritten letter Harry sent earlier this year expressing a wish to reconnect.

Speaking briefly to reporters after leaving Clarence House, Harry said simply, Yes, hes great, thank you. In a later interview with a British newspaper conducted during his Ukraine visit, he said the coming year must focus on his father and...