Prince Harry has approved a behind-the-scenes summit between his aides and those of King Charles III, raising prospects of a possible reconciliation after years of strained relations between father and son. The confidential meeting, held last week at London's Royal Over-Seas League club, involved Harry's chief of staff Meredith Maines and UK-Europe communications manager Liam Maguire meeting with Tobyn Andreae, communications secretary to the King and Queen.
Sources cited by The Sun and The Telegraph said the Duke of Sussex gave his "blessing" for the talks, which focused on rebuilding channels of communication and avoiding media conflicts. However, no discussions were held regarding Harry returning to a formal royal role. Notably absent from the meeting were representatives of Prince William and Princess Kate, who were reportedly not informed of the summit.
The potential thaw in relations comes as Harry is expected to return to the UK in September for the WellChild Awards. If confirmed, the trip would mark the first in-person meeting between Harry and King Charles in 18 months. The monarch, currently undergoing cancer treatment, is expected to be in Balmoral around that time and is scheduled to host President Donald Trump for a state visit on September 17.
Royal insiders told The Sun that Buckingham Palace had agreed "within the past two weeks" to the aide-level discussions. "The King is at heart a loving and generous man," one palace source said. "But there is now a chance for his son to move forwards rather than dwell on past grievances."
Harry's team insists the meeting was part of Maines' official duties and involved planning for engagements tied to Harry's patronages. Yet insiders said the Sussexes were "frustrated" by leaks to the press, leading to fresh tensions. Palace insiders reportedly expressed "weary disappointment" over the leaked photos and details of the talks.
Earlier this year, Harry told the BBC, "I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point continuing to fight anymore, life is precious." He also expressed sadness over being unable to show his children the UK due to security disputes, adding, "I don't know how much longer my father has."
Harry's strained relationship with his brother, Prince William, shows little sign of repair. Royal expert Tom Bower told GB News, "What he really fears is, when the King, God forbid, dies, his brother is going to banish himself from Britain."
While King Charles and Prince Harry have maintained limited contact since the publication of Harry's memoir Spare and his Oprah Winfrey interview, the latest developments suggest a narrow opening for dialogue. Still, the exclusion of William's team underscores how deeply entrenched the family's divisions remain.
