King Charles engages with former affiliate of son Harry's beloved charity

The ongoing rift within the British royal family has been the stuff of tabloid journalists for several years in a row, but a recent engagement involving King Charles underscored the charitable ties that continue to bind the monarch and his offspring.

As Parade reports, last week, King Charles III paid a visit to the Center for Injury Studies at Imperial College London, and it was there that he encountered a man who had prior involvement with Prince Harry's flagship charity, the Invictus Games.

Charles chats with Invictus alum

During the aforementioned event, Charles had the opportunity to speak with former army captain David Henson, who was himself a competitor in the Invictus Games, an Olympics-like tournament for sick and injured military veterans.

Henson offered a demonstration of technological advances in rehabilitation methods for those who have lost limbs, and it was then that Charles raised the subject of the Invictus Games so dear to his younger son's heart.

Recalling his experiences with the organization, Henson stated that he was an athlete during the 2014 and 2016 games, also taking part in the Paralympics in 2016.

He also served as one of the organization's trustees until late 2023, noting of Invictus, “So I've certainly been involved with it.”

Perhaps out of a sense of pride and solidarity with the charity to which his son has long been devoted, Charles replied to Henson, “Fantastic.”

Harry's Canadian adventure

Prince Harry, also known as the Duke of Sussex, recently ventured to Canada to oversee the latest iteration of the Invictus Games and to cheer the participants on to glory.

However, his involvement in the week's festivities was not without controversy, as GB News notes, with some organization insiders expressing frustration about Harry's apparent dig at U.S. President Donald Trump during an opening ceremony speech.

On the heels of unflattering remarks made by Trump about Harry's wife, Meghan Markle, the prince took it upon himself to lament what he called “weak moral character in the world,” a statement insiders viewed as “an unwelcome distraction from the Games' core purpose.”

Also adding complexity to the Sussexes' role in this year's games was widespread criticism of Markle's seemingly endless, high-end wardrobe changes, a flashy display that detractors suggest runs counter to the mission of uplifting those who have triumphed over adversity.

While Charles' recent nod to his son's beloved charity perhaps offers a hint at the bonds that once connected the two, whether the familial division that has erupted since Harry's departure from royal life will ever truly be repaired, only time will tell.