King Charles, Prince Harry (AP file photos)
Prince Harry is reportedly desperate to reconcile with his father King Charles, but insiders say the King is still wary.Royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News that King Charles was still “cautious and wary” about Harry’s outreach. She said he might attend the Invictus Games later in Brimingham this year, but noted that the timing overlaps with Queen Camilla’s 80th birthday and other royal commitments.“But of course, he prefers all private matters to remain private. In addition, there are many conflicts with the royal schedule, let alone Queen Camilla’s 80th birthday during the games,” she said.“Harry wants to be included. He misses not only the UK but many aspects of royal privileges. However, he hasn’t been successful in any of his endeavors. For the royals, more disclosures and scandals are concerning,” she addedHarry fears permanent exileRoyal biographer Tom Bower told The Mirror that Prince Harry is “seriously worried” about his long-term place in the UK. “He’s worried that when his father dies, William will literally banish him and he will have no status in Britain at all,” Bower said. “He will be persona non grata.”Fordwich also said, “They simply don’t need… Harry around, particularly not Prince William, who is resolute regarding any reconciliation being a huge mistake.”
A quiet meeting
That fear may have partly prompted a quiet outreach to the palace last week A low-key meeting took place at the Royal Over-Seas League, a private club in London. Prince Harry’s aides Meredith Maines and Liam Maguire flew in to meet the King’s communications secretary Tobyn Andreae. Witnesses say the group chatted casually on the garden terrace before moving indoors. There was no set agenda, but both sides reportedly had “things they wanted to talk about”. This marks the first direct communication effort since tensions exploded between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family, a rift that began with their exit from official duties and deepened with public accusations about racism, neglect, and media manipulation.
How it all fell apart?
The breakdown began in early 2020, when Harry and Meghan announced they were stepping back as senior royals and relocating to North America. The move shocked the family and sparked public debate. Things worsened after their 2021 Oprah interview, where the couple spoke about racism and neglect within the royal household. Harry later accused the family of ignoring their mental health struggles and failing to protect them from media attacks. His memoir Spare, along with multiple interviews and a legal fight over police security in the UK, further deepened the divide. Since then, communication between Harry and the rest of the family has been minimal and tense.
Security row
Harry’s legal battle over the removal of his taxpayer-funded police protection has only added to the strain. He recently lost a key appeal and issued a strong statement criticising the decision, calling it “reckless” and “a stitch-up.” In a BBC interview, Harry said: “He (Charles) won’t speak to me because of this security stuff. Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has… It would be nice to reconcile.With King Charles undergoing cancer treatment and William holding a firm line, there are no confirmed plans for the King and Harry to meet as of now.
