Latest news with #Buckingham Palace
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
William and Kate were probably aware of Harry's 'peace summit' but won't be as keen as the King to reconcile differences, insiders reveal
Prince William probably knew about the secret 'peace summit' between the Sussexes' key aides and the King's communications secretary but will be a 'tougher nut to crack' than his father, MailOnline can reveal today. The photographs published in The Mail on Sunday have been made headlines around the world and raised hopes of reconciliation between the warring royals. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have denied leaking details of the rendezvous between Meredith Maines, Liam Maguire and the King's communications secretary Tobyn Andreae in London on Wednesday. The Prince and Princess of Wales did not have their own representative at the summit at a club close to Buckingham Palace, but will have been made aware, MailOnline's source said today. But there will be fresh 'frustrations' that the meeting was leaked at a time when 'trust' is at an all time low - especially between Harry and William. 'Prince Harry made it clear in May that he was fed up with the fighting and wanted to reconcile with his family, not least because his father hasn't shared his cancer prognosis with him and he just hasn't got a clear picture about His Majesty's health. A first step is getting their offices talking to one another again', the royal insider said. 'Tobyn Andreae is director of communications for the whole royal household so in that sense could be seen to be representing the Prince and Princess of Wales but, in reality, they run their own operation. Many things have been said that probably everyone regrets but if there is reconciliation, it's likely that William and Kate are going to be a tougher nut to crack than the King. 'I'd be surprised if William wasn't aware that it was going ahead. His office and Team Sussex have coordinated in the past, even when the two brothers weren't speaking, over events for the Diana Award or the unveiling of the Diana statue. 'But relations have been increasingly strained even at that level between the Sussexes and both the King's and William's offices'. The source added: 'The first step has to be building trust so I think there's frustration that this meeting was leaked'. Harry and Meghan are said to have been frustrated that pictures of the extraordinary meeting were published in The Mail on Sunday It came amid claims that Harry and Meghan are said to be frustrated after a meeting between their chief of communications and an aide of the King was caught on camera. The meeting was at the Royal Over-Seas League near Clarence House – a private members' club, which, somewhat ironically, champions international friendship and of which the King is patron. It is not known whether it was Charles or Harry who arranged the 'peace talks' but pictures of the two sides enjoying drinks raised hopes of a reconciliation. Both Harry, 40, and his father, 76, are said to be keen to reconcile, especially after the King was diagnosed with cancer last year. However, Harry and Meghan are said to have been frustrated that pictures of the extraordinary meeting were published in The Mail on Sunday. Sources close to Prince Harry insisted the Sussexes were not responsible for passing details of the meeting on to the newspaper. They acknowledged that having the details splashed across newspaper front pages was not an ideal start to what they had hoped would be a new period of peace, The Telegraph reported last night. The King is said to have backed the historic summit with a source close to His Majesty hailing it as a 'significant moment' that could repair the relationship with his son. A 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. 'It's not unusual for aides from different households to meet, especially when there is a new influx of staff starting, but this is a significant moment. 'If there is a period of calm and reflection on the part of the duke, then there be a way forward for him to begin along the road of repairing his relationship with his father.' But the source cautioned repairing the relationship with his brother was a 'different matter entirely and one which he will find much harder to repair'. Pictures of the meeting show Ms Maines, carrying a black Louis Vuitton bag, arrive by taxi with Mr Maguire at 3:50pm on Wednesday. Mr Andreae turned up minutes later carrying a gift from Berry Bros & Rudd, the official wine supplier to the Royal Family. The trio were later seen chatting over drinks in the 26C (78F) sunshine on a first-floor garden terrace overlooking Green Park. After ten minutes they resumed their discussions inside. A source said the summit was only the 'first step towards reconciliation between Harry and his father, but at least it is a step in the right direction'. Sources close to Prince Harry insisted the Sussexes were not responsible for passing details of the meeting on to the newspaper The source told The Mail on Sunday: 'There's a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in years. There was no formal agenda, just casual drinks. There were things both sides wanted to talk about.' Royal experts suggested the meeting was 'more of a courtesy call' than peace talks. Royal commentator Ingrid Seward said she believed it was simply a chance for Ms Maines, who was appointed earlier this year, to meet her British counterpart, respected royal aide Mr Andreae. The Palace refused to comment on whether Prince William was aware of the meeting but royal experts said it was unlikely to have gone ahead without his approval. The 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham is one opportunity for a public reconciliation reportedly being discussed by both sides. California-based Harry is set to next visit the UK in September for the annual WellChild events.
Telegraph
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Sussexes ‘did not leak details of meeting with King's aide'
Team Sussex was not responsible for leaking the details of a 'peace summit' to a tabloid newspaper, sources insist. Senior aides working for the King and Prince Harry took the first steps towards rapprochement by holding sensitive talks last week. The meeting at a private members' club in central London, was an extraordinary development in relations between the two Royal households, which in recent years have been almost non-existent. Details including the venue, timings and nature of the talks were leaked to the Mail on Sunday. This led to the aides being 'papped' outside the club, and even during the meeting, as they enjoyed drinks on a balcony. The leak has jeopardised the fragile peace operation, creating further suspicion and distrust on both sides and potentially sending them back to square one. Sources close to Prince Harry insisted that the Sussexes were not responsible. They acknowledged that having the details of the meeting splashed across newspaper front pages was hardly an ideal way to start what they had hoped would be a new period of peace. Buckingham Palace declined to comment. Meredith Maines, the Duke's new chief communications officer based in California, was joined at the meeting by Liam Maguire, who runs the Sussexes's UK-based PR operation, and Tobyn Andreae, the King's communications secretary. The meeting was orchestrated in a bid to start afresh, with both sides recognising that an open communication channel would benefit them all. A source told the Mail on Sunday: 'There's a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in years. 'There was no formal agenda, just casual drinks. There were things both sides wanted to talk about.' The meeting came weeks after the Duke told the BBC that he wanted to 'get my father and brother back'. It was hoped that the peace summit, at the Royal Over-Seas League near Clarence House, would be a line in the sand. Ms Maines and Mr Maguire arrived at the meeting by taxi on Wednesday afternoon, followed by Mr Andreae. The trio were seen on the club's first-floor garden terrace before moving inside. The source described the summit as the 'first step towards reconciliation between Harry and his father' and a 'a step in the right direction', adding: 'It was finally the right time for the two sides to talk.' The feud began when the Sussexes left their royal duties and moved to America, amid furious negotiations over the terms of their 'exit deal'. Since leaving for the US the Sussexes have shared intimate family revelations and made damaging allegations in a series of television interviews as well as in Spare, Prince Harry's memoir. Senior royals became 'wary' of talking to the Sussexes for fear their words would be repeated in public. The rift widened significantly following the Sussexes' 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, during which they alleged a member of the Royal family was concerned about their son Archie's skin tone before he was born. Then the Duke claimed in his controversial memoir that his brother had physically attacked him and that the King put his own interests above Harry's and was jealous of Meghan. Prince William, in particular, was angry about how the Princess of Wales had been portrayed and at his brother's betrayal for commercial gain. When the King was diagnosed with cancer in January 2023, Prince Harry was shaken enough to make a transatlantic dash to see his father. But the Duke's decision to take on the Government in the High Court over his access to state-funded police protection deepened the rift. The Duke believed the King could intervene on his behalf to negotiate an arrangement, but the King was said to have been so worried about being dragged into the case that he was hesitant to engage with his younger son in case his words were repeated in public. Harry lost his appeal in May. The 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham is one opportunity for a public reconciliation being discussed by both sides. The Duke is said to have sent email invitations to Buckingham Palace in the hope that it will give the King sufficient time to fit the event into his busy schedule. The prospect of the monarch's attendance is understood to have been discussed by senior palace aides, aware that the Games could prove a timely opportunity to mend bridges.
