Charles and Harry talks in full - Sussex 'motive', William's role and leak row
Prince Harry has opened the door to a possible reconciliation with his father after senior aides for the Duke of Sussex held private talks with King Charles 's most trusted adviser.
Two of Harry's top staff - Meredith Maines, his chief of staff in Montecito, and Liam Maguire, who runs the Sussexes' UK PR operation - were spotted meeting with Tobyn Andreae, the King's communications secretary, for drinks at the Royal Over-Seas League in London last week.
Sources close to the Palace were quick to stress there was 'no formal agenda, just casual drinks'. But royal watchers believe the meeting could be the first step towards repairing the rift between Harry and his family after years of tension.
They are said to have discussed how to end the conflict, and matters like not trying to steal the spotlight with schedule clashes. However, a return to royal life for Harry was reportedly not touched on.
A source told The Sun:"The meeting was with Harry's blessing," while Buckingham Palace is said to have agreed to the get-together within the last two weeks. Harry is next due back in the UK in September for the annual WellChild events, prompting speculation that he and Charles could meet then. So how did the milestone meeting play out and what is the story around it?
Harry's 'motive'
The meeting comes amid growing speculation that Harry, 40, is seeking a way to rebuild ties with the monarchy, with cynics accusing him of seeking to 'replenish his royalness' because that's his 'only real currency'.
"Truth is, if you strip away his royal status there's not an awful lot left to work with,' said MailOnline columnist Sarah Vine. "Harry hasn't exactly distinguished himself as a 'civilian'. Every single project he's undertaken has been predicated on his titles... It's a rich resource he has ruthlessly mined, but without contact with the source, the well is beginning to run dry.
" Prince Harry needs to replenish his royalness - and making nice with Pater is the quickest and easiest way of reminding the world of that profitable connection.
Harry's multi-million-pound deals with Netflix and other platforms have relied heavily on his royal connection. Some insiders believe he now risks losing that relevance if he remains cut off from his family.
William's role
Any reunion would also need to address the deep hurt felt by Prince William and the Princess of Wales.
'The King can't just allow Harry to waltz back into the fold without acknowledging how destructive and hurtful his behaviour has been towards his brother and his brother's wife,' Vine added..
However, it has been said that the talks would never have happened without the approval of the Prince of Wales and his wife Kate, although there is reportedly no hope of a reunion between the brothers at this point.
While Prince William 's team were reportedly not invited to the shock summit, experts have revealed the hidden role he will have likely played behind the scenes as the future of the monarchy. They claim that while William is far less inclined to reconcile with his estranged brother, whom he's reportedly not spoken to in years, the meeting would have never happened without his 'support and understanding'.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Mail Online: "The King would never have made these moves without William's support and understanding. William and Catherine are the future of the monarchy. He has undoubtedly been furious at the way the Sussexes have behaved and undoubtedly regards Harry's behaviour as treason of a sort. They reportedly have not spoken in over two years.'
And royal author Phil Dampier said: "The King is more anxious to patch things up than William, who I believe will never be close to his brother again."
Harry's next move
King Charles, who has only met Harry and Meghan's youngest child, Princess Lilibet, once, is thought to be keen to see more of his grandchildren. But insiders say any rapprochement will take time and require 'genuine commitment' from Harry to mend relations.
A Royal source told the Mirror: "The King has consistently shown he loves both his sons and as he has done in the past is prepared to meet Harry when their diaries allow such an occasion. It's not unusual for aides from different households to meet, especially when there is a new influx of staff starting their roles, but of course this is a significant moment.
"Senior members of the family have in the past said to Harry that he must both stop his attacks on the family as well as giving endless rounds of broadcast interviews as his only way of communication. If there is a period of calm and reflection on the part of the Duke of Sussex, then there may be a way forward for him to begin along the road of repairing his relationship with his father."
Harry is due back in the UK on
Leak row
Details of the meeting leaked, with the staff pictured enjoying drinks in the sunshine. Speculation soon started over which camp had leaked the details, with social media suspicion immediately falling on the Sussexes, who have been know to share intimate details of family matters in the past.
Sources close to the Sussexes have since denied that they are to blame, while Buckingham Palace declined to comment when approached by The Telegraph.
Harry and Meghan are said to be frustrated that the story was leaked, and acknowledge that it's not an ideal start to peace talks.
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