At a grand state banquet held at Windsor Castle on Tuesday night, King Charles delivered a heartfelt tribute to his eldest son, Prince William — while noticeably excluding any mention of his estranged younger son, Prince Harry.
A Toast to William and Catherine
The 76-year-old monarch gave a formal speech during the evening’s festivities, hosted in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte. The dinner, attended by over 150 guests, featured King Charles rising to deliver remarks that were both personal and humorous, as he acknowledged William and Catherine’s growing role within the royal family.
Charles specifically highlighted the Prince and Princess of Wales’ decision to settle in Windsor, tying the move back to the castle’s historic roots.
“The castle in which we meet this evening was begun by my ancestor — and your sometime countryman — William, Duke of Normandy, in the year 1070,” he noted. “It remains the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.”
With a warm smile, the king added, “So it is perhaps rather appropriate that my son, the Prince of Wales, who shares that earlier William’s name, has made Windsor his home with his family, like so many of our predecessors.”
A Celebration of Anglo-French Friendship
In addition to his family-focused message, Charles also used his speech to underscore the enduring alliance between the United Kingdom and France. The occasion marked a symbolic moment of diplomacy and shared heritage between the two nations.
Harry Left Out Once Again
While the speech offered praise and affection for William and his family, it pointedly left out Prince Harry — a silence that did not go unnoticed.
Since stepping down from royal duties in 2020 and relocating to California with Meghan Markle, Harry has remained at the center of ongoing tensions within the royal household. His tell-all memoir Spare and multiple public interviews have deepened the rift between him and the rest of the Firm.
Despite this, Harry recently expressed a desire to heal the divide. In a BBC interview, the 40-year-old said, “There’s no point continuing to fight anymore, life is precious.” He also revealed he had “forgiven” his family for past “disagreements” and stated that he would “love a reconciliation,” though he claimed his father “won’t speak” to him.
The Wales Family’s Life in Windsor
Prince William and Princess Catherine made Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Great Park their primary residence in 2022. The charming royal property is located just a short walk from Windsor Castle and is conveniently close to Lambrook School, where Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are all enrolled.
Before moving to Windsor, the couple lived at Apartment 1A in Kensington Palace, once the home of Princess Margaret and her husband Antony Armstrong-Jones.
While the Wales family continues to visit their London base, Adelaide Cottage remains their main home — a symbol of their evolving role in the royal family and a fitting nod to royal tradition, as highlighted by King Charles during his tribute.