King Charles has confirmed the dates for his 2026 Garden Parties, with the first event scheduled for May 6—the same day his grandson Prince Archie turns seven.
Garden Party Schedule
Three Garden Parties will occur in the Buckingham Palace Garden this summer, alongside one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on June 30. These events honor frontline workers across the United Kingdom, including volunteers, charity supporters, and emergency services personnel.
The opening Garden Party on May 6 emphasizes community service dedication. Additional Buckingham Palace dates include May 8 and May 12. A special gathering for ex-service personnel, hosted by The Not Forgotten Association, takes place on May 19 at the royal residence.
Bittersweet Timing for the Monarch
The May 6 date carries emotional weight for King Charles, given his limited contact with Prince Archie since Prince Harry and Meghan relocated to the United States in 2020 after stepping back from senior royal duties.
Their most recent known meeting happened during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in London in 2022, when Charles also met Princess Lilibet for the first time.
Prince Harry expressed a desire for family reconciliation in a recent interview, stating, “I would love reconciliation with my family, there’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious, I don’t know how much longer my father has, he won’t speak to me because of this security stuff.” He added that the decision rests with his family: “If they don’t want that, that’s entirely up to them.”
Signs of potential mending appeared last September when Harry visited his father for a private tea at Clarence House in London. The hour-long meeting’s details remain private, but Harry was photographed leaving afterward.
Prince Archie’s Birthday Celebrations
Archie typically marks his birthday in Montecito with his four-year-old sister Lilibet and parents. Last year, Harry missed the occasion due to a trip to Las Vegas for a charity event launching a youth initiative with the Diana Award.
Meghan shared a family moment, posting a photo of Archie in striped pajamas watching the sunset. She captioned it: “Our son. Our sun. Happy 6th birthday to Archie! Thank you for all of the love, prayers, and warm wishes for our sweet boy. He’s six! Where did the time go? (And for all of you who came to celebrate with us at his party last weekend, thank you for making his birthday so incredibly special.”
The family enjoyed a private party before Harry’s departure.
