Photos released in celebration of King Charles’ 70th birthday hold a deeper, more poignant significance than many initially realized.
It’s rare to see the most prominent members of the royal family assembled for a formal group portrait. In recent years, the composition of the so-called “senior royals” has changed considerably, particularly following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from royal duties over five years ago.
Back in January 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their decision to step back from their official roles and relocate to the United States to raise their family. The late Queen Elizabeth II endorsed their decision, acknowledging the need for a transitional period during which the couple would divide their time between Canada and the UK.
In an official statement at the time, the Queen remarked, “These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.”
Since stepping away, Harry and Meghan have made only a few brief visits to the UK, and their relationship with the royal family remains strained.
However, a particular photograph taken in 2018 to commemorate King Charles’ 70th birthday has recently resurfaced and caught the attention of royal watchers.
Many now view it as the last formal portrait featuring the entire family together.
The image includes King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate, their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, as well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The group is dressed in coordinated white and blue attire, capturing a sense of unity and celebration. A more candid version of the portrait, which shows the family sharing a laugh, adds an emotional depth to the moment, one that feels increasingly distant in light of current tensions.
Shortly after Charles’ milestone birthday, the BBC aired a documentary titled Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70, in which Prince Harry reflected on a meaningful moment leading up to his wedding. He recalled asking his father to walk Meghan down the aisle.
“I asked him to, and I think he knew it was coming,” Harry said.
“He immediately said, ‘Yes, of course, I’ll do whatever Meghan needs, and I’m here to support you.’”
He continued, “For him, that was a great chance to step up and show support. He’s our dad, so naturally, he wanted to be there for us.”
Despite this show of unity and support at the time, the relationship between Harry and his father appears to remain distant.
That 2018 portrait, once simply a celebratory image, is now viewed by many as a symbolic farewell to a version of the royal family that no longer exists, marking the end of an era before the well-publicized divisions took hold.
