Just hours before Harry’s much-anticipated reunion with King Charles at Highgrove House last week, the Duke of Sussex appeared to send a rare signal that he could be ready to move forward
Visiting Birmingham Children’s Hospital last Thursday, Harry shared a sweet moment discussing football with a young patient, who said he supported Aston Villa. Harry, 41, then told him, ‘My brother supports Aston Villa,’ mentioning their recent Europa League win.
The mention of ‘my brother’ – a far cry from the ‘arch nemesis’ he was described as just three years ago in Harry’s scathing memoir, Spare – has been widely viewed as a subtle olive branch amid the brother’s long-running feud.
And one that King Charles is holding onto, according to a source, who revealed to Heatworld how the monarch has been left cautiously delighted to have finally made peace with the Sussexes.
The source says that Charles is pushing hard for Prince William, 43, and Princess Kate, 44, to follow suit. While the King is aware that their deep rift could take time to heal, the monarch has also made the heartbreaking admission that he fears they may never make peace while he is still here to see it.
They insider said, ‘Charles just isn’t prepared to accept that he’ll never have the chance to see his sons on good terms again. He thinks it’s absolutely ludicrous that this grudge has dragged on for so long and he’s vowed to do what it takes to sort things out, even if it means putting serious pressure on the both of them because he absolutely believes they are equally to blame.
‘This trip wasn’t the right time to force any meeting but he’s made it clear that he will be tackling that in due time. He wants them to start letting some of the bad blood go, if not for his sake, then at least for the sake of their children. To Charles, that’s the biggest tragedy in all of this, they’re missing out on growing up together as cousins.’
Traditionally, the Royal Family comes together during the main Christian celebrations – notably Easter and Christmas. It’s also at these times of year that we find out who has made the monarch’s cut – who is in favour and who is out.
Reports were circulating earlier this month that, after hearing that Charles, 77, was set to welcome Harry and Meghan back to the UK, William had threatened to ‘boycott Sandringham’ – where such events are held – for the foreseeable future, making where he stands on the ‘Harry situation’ completely clear.
But, not to be deterred, the source claimed Charles has instead honed in on the season of forgiveness for what he hopes will be a face-to-face meeting between his two warring sons and their families, especially Archie and Lili and their cousins – Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight.
The insider says, ‘The King was so charmed by Archie and Lilibet, he wants to be able to spend more time with them going forward and he’s got his heart set on George and Charlotte and Louis having that opportunity as well.
‘He would love for Harry and Meghan to bring them over for Christmas and for them all to celebrate together as a happy family but considering the state of things as they are now that is highly unlikely. Still, he’s holding out hope that something could change.’
Big change
The catalyst for Charles’ sudden U-turn, we’re told, was Harry’s very public recognition of his brother.
His comment at the children’s hospital was also followed by a remark he made on the Joe Marler Will See You Now podcast, during which he shared a childhood memory of how Princess Diana would hug both him and William ‘as tight as possible’ after a tough day – a comfort he says he now tries to continue with his own children.
Now the source says, ‘He [Charles] is certainly seeing a big change in Harry. He was incredibly pleased when Harry made mention of ‘my brother’ William during his visit to Birmingham. It might sound like nothing more than a throwaway comment to most people but Charles took it as a genuine sign that Harry’s mindset when it comes to his brother has softened considerably.
‘Charles believes Harry was trying to extend an olive branch, in his own way, and it’s given him a lot of hope that there will eventually be a thawing. He understands that there’s still a lot of resentment on both sides, but clearly Harry is ready to make the effort so his mission now is to find a way to get William to let go of some of his anger and push this forward.’
Meanwhile, while the Sussexes did not meet with Kate and William during their trip, it had been speculated prior to their UK return how Kate may be feeling about the prospect of coming face-to-face with Meghan for the first time in four years. After stepping down as senior royals in 2020, it was reported that the growing distance between Harry and Meghan and William and Kate – previously dubbed The Fab Four – had contributed towards the Sussexes’ departure.
William is widely reported to remain ‘furious’ over his brother’s tell-alls, but the source says Charles ‘isn’t giving up’ and remains hopeful for the future – even if his sons remain at loggerheads for now.
‘Unfortunately, William is not there yet, and if anything, he’s taken issue with Harry mentioning him so casually considering the state of things,’ the source says.
‘To him it smacks of Harry trying to manipulate the situation and he says he won’t fall for it. But Charles isn’t giving up, it is his wish to see his family united again and he refuses to accept that all hope of that is lost.
‘He is convinced William still loves his brother, despite everything that’s happened, and he has no doubts Harry feels the same, even if neither of them is prepared to admit it right now.’
