Prince Harry and King Charles' secret 'peace summit' is a 'good first step' and sign of 'optimism', insider claims
The Sussexes have denied leaking details of the meeting between Meredith Maines and the King's communications secretary Tobyn Andreae near Clarence House.
Liam Maguire, who runs Harry and Meghan's UK public relations team, was also at the meeting last Wednesday at the Royal Over-Seas League club in London.
Now, a source has told People magazine - which is friendly with the Sussexes - that the talks could be the start of an improved relationship between father and son.
The unnamed insider said: 'It was a good first step. It is always better to be talking. It's a positive step. There's optimism that it can be taken forward.'
It is not known whether it was Charles or Harry who arranged the 'peace talks' but pictures of the two sides enjoying drinks have raised hopes of a reconciliation.
There has still been no official comment on the meeting from press representatives for Buckingham Palace, the Sussexes or the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Both Harry, 40, and his 76-year-old father are said to be keen to reconcile, especially after the King was diagnosed with cancer last year.
Harry and Meghan are said to have been frustrated that pictures of the meeting were published
The King and Harry at Windsor Castle for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022
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 Harry have 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, according to The Telegraph.
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'.
Liam Maguire and Meredith Maines from the Sussexes' PR team are pictured outside the club
Tobyn Andreae arrives for the secret meeting last week with a gift from Berry Bros & Rudd
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.
Another royal insider told MailOnline: '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. 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.
King Charles and Prince Harry at a meeting at Clarence House in London in December 2018
'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'.
A source close to the Sussexes told MailOnline that all parties involved were 'frustrated' that the meeting was made public.
But another royal expert claimed that the King and his heir will be peeved that it was made public - and could even suspect Harry, Meghan and their team.
Phil Dampier told MailOnline: 'Both The King and Prince William always fear that they can't trust Harry and Meghan not to put any talks they have into the public arena and this will confirm their worst fears.
'To me it looks as though Harry wants to portray himself as the one who is trying to patch things up. If talks fail he can say he tried.
'But I don't think these tactics will work and the fact this summit was leaked will put any reconciliation process back by months'.
California-based Harry is set to next visit the UK in September for the annual WellChild Awards.
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