Fresh drama after secret royal peace talks

Courier-Mail

16-07-2025

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IN LONDON
Shortly after details of secret talks between Prince Harry and King Charles' senior aides emerged, the delicate push toward reconciliation has already hit a snag.
The UK's Telegraph reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's team is frustrated that the story, which included quotes from a source and pictures of the sensitive meeting, leaked so quickly to The Mail on Sunday.
A huge factor in the years-long rift between both camps has been mutual distrust – and having specific details of the private conversation between Tobyn Andrae, the King's communications secretary, Harry's new chief communications officer, Meredith Maines, and his UK-based publicist, Liam Maguire, picked up by the press almost immediately has done nothing to help the situation.
According to the Telegraph, sources insisted that Harry's camp was not responsible for the leak, despite suspicions.
Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the matter.
In the initial story, published on Sunday, a source told the Mail: '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.'
Senior aides for both Harry and the King met up recently. Picture: Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage
It came after a period of increasingly hostile relations between the US-based Sussexes and the Palace, following the release of a series of personal – and unflattering – details about the couple's issues during their time as working royals.
As a result, senior royals had become 'wary' of speaking to either Harry or Meghan over concerns details would be used in future projects, as had occurred with their Netflix series and the duke's memoir, Spare.
For his part, one of Harry's main gripes about life within the monarchy was his allegation that members of his family were leaking stories about each other to the press.
Meanwhile, after the 'peace summit' over the weekend, it's now been reported that Harry could potentially meet with the King in just a matter of weeks.
In May, he had confirmed he and his father were no longer on speaking terms, marking a sad new development in what's been a turbulent few years in their relationship.
The conversations did not include any suggestion that Harry would 'make a royal return'. Picture: Tolga Akmen/AFP
The Sun's royal editor Matt Wilkinson reports that Harry '[gave] his blessing' for the casual meeting, which was centred around ways to finally reconcile family issues, although he added that 'a proposal for Harry to make a royal return was not on the agenda'.
It's unclear which side reached out first to book the catch-up, and it's understood no-one from Prince William's team was present.
In September, Harry is expected to return to the UK to attend the annual WellChild Awards, of which he is patron, providing a potential opportunity for the pair to meet in person for the first time in 18 months.
They last saw each other back in early 2024, when Harry made a quick dash back to London to see his father shortly after he revealed his cancer diagnosis.
If Harry and the King arrange a reunion, it would mark a significant turning point in the ongoing feud between the duke and the royal family, which was sparked before Harry and Meghan sensationally quit official duties and moved to the US.
September is already set to be a big month for the royals, with the announcement on Monday that they will be hosting US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on a state visit.
Originally published as Fresh drama erupts after secret royal peace talks: 'Frustrated'