What the London meeting between Prince Harry and King Charles' staff really means

Sky News AU

a day ago

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle feel the need to broker a reconciliation with cancer-stricken King Charles before it's too late, according to multiple sources.
Senior staff for the couple were spotted meeting Charles' top PR aide in London last week in what was described as a secret peace summit.
Charles, 76, is still being treated for cancer, and Hugo Vickers, author and friend of the royal family, mused that Harry would feel 'riddled with guilt' if he never saw his dad again.
'The ball is in Harry's court. He is the one who has to apologize and beg for forgiveness, and not the other way around,' Vickers told Page Six.
The last time Harry, 40, saw Charles was when he flew to London after the king announced his cancer diagnosis in February 2024 — and was only given a 30-minute meeting.
Sources told us previously that Charles — who, it was announced Monday, will host President Donald Trump for his second state visit in September — is not cured, but is getting the best possible treatment.
In May, Harry told the BBC he 'would love a reconciliation' with the royal family, in an emotional interview in which he said he was 'devastated' at losing a legal challenge over his security in the UK.
Harry revealed that Charles 'won't speak to me because of this security stuff,' but added that he did not want to fight any more and did 'not know how much longer my father has.'
The Mail on Sunday published photos of Meredith Maines, chief communications officer for Harry and Meghan Markle, meeting with Charles' communications secretary, Tobyn Andreae, last Wednesday.
Liam Maguire, who oversees UK press for the Sussexes, was also present for the informal chat at the private club Royal Over-Seas League.
'[The staff] may well have just been discussing routine things, which is more than likely, but at some point you have got to reconcile,' Vickers said. 'I don't think we'll see Harry returning to royal duties, but on a personal level it will be good if he's able to get on terms with his father.'
The trio sat outside in full view of onlookers, which Vickers called 'odd.'
Sussex sources said both camps were 'frustrated' that photos of the meeting were leaked.
Maines had flown from Los Angeles to London to meet with the Sussexes' UK team as well as media, stakeholders and senior figures connected to the Duke's patronages.
Other royal sources speculated that Harry, Markle and their children — Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, who have had barely any in-person time with their grandfather — may get an invite from Charles to Balmoral, the Scottish estate where he stays every August.
'It's his house he can do whatever he likes,' said Vickers. 'But there's quite a lot of ground to be made up.'
Harry and his brother, Prince William — who appeared with wife Kate Middleton and their two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte at the Wimbledon's men's finals on Sunday — has not spoken to his younger brother in years. Sources have told William he has no plans to mend bridges with Harry.
Vickers believes that Princess Eugenie, the daughter of Prince Andrew, is key to mending the family rift, as she remains close to her cousin Harry.
'They are going to grow up and work out that their first cousin [Prince George] is going to be the King of England,' he said. 'Eugenie seems to be the one in touch with Harry and seems to be the person who could broker the deal with the children.'
Originally published as What the London meeting between Prince Harry and King Charles' staff really means