KING Charles has made it “absolutely clear” to Prince Harry he can’t have a “half-in, half-out” royal role.
The Duke of Sussex briefly met up with his dad for the first time in 19 months last week during a visit to the UK.
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The meeting at Clarence House was described as a “private tea” between the two and lasting 55 minutes – almost double the time Harry got during a similar engagement last year.
The Duke, 41, was seen arriving in a Range Rover and wearing a suit – and later said his priority this year was to “focus on my dad”.
However, The Times reports it was made clear to the King’s youngest son he can’t have a “half-in, half out” role in the Firm, having stepped down as a working royal with wife Meghan Markle in 2020.
The meeting is understood to have raised the prospect for a changed role for Harry, but Palace sources told the newspaper a more formal return is not currently on the cards.
“The King has been absolutely clear in upholding his late mother’s decision that there can be no ‘half-in, half-out’ public role for members of the family,” the source said.
It comes after The Mail on Sunday reported yesterday that “high-level talks” were underway to bring Charles and Harry together “in a public show of unity”.
But it appears reintegrating the Duke back into the Firm is not something either party is keen on.
A spokesman for Harry said: “The duke has made it clear that the focus has to be on his dad.
“Beyond that, and on any other issues as it relates to his family, we won’t be commenting.”
Royal expert Ingrid Seward told The Sun the meeting was a “PR stunt”, with the Duke desperate and needing “stardust” from his dad to remain relevant.
“I think it’s a massive PR move to re-establish Harry in the hearts of the British people,” Ms Seward explained.
“Harry needs the stardust of his father. He needs people to see him as the son of a king.
“His earning power is related to who he is. Without being the royal he is, Harry would not be interested to anyone in California.
“But because he is the son of a king, and the brother of an heir to the throne, he is of great interest and he needs that connection.”
Ms Seward said, seeing as Harry makes his money through public appearances and multi-million pound content deals with the likes of Netflix, he must remain on the news agenda.
She said the view of a “split” family did not sit well with audiences in the US, where he and Meghan relocated after they quit the Royal Family.
Ingrid continued: “This is a big, big PR push, and Harry was finally all smiles and charm, reminiscent of himself of old.”
‘My conscience is clear’
Speaking to The Guardian, the Duke said following his meeting with Charles that his “conscience is clear”, in relation to his controversial memoir Spare.
In response, Ms Seward said: “I’m not sure that Harry knows what a clear conscience is.”
His book included allegations against members of the Firm, including his brother Prince William.
After his four-day trip to Britain, a spokesperson for Harry told how he “loved catching up with old friends” and colleagues.
Harry also admitted he wants to spend more time in the country.
When asked if he would bring his children, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, he responded: “This week has definitely brought that closer.”
The Sun has approached the Sussexes’ reps for comment.
‘MISSION ACCOMPLISHED’
By Matt Wilkinson, The Sun’s Royal Editor
FOR all of Harry’s multiple appearances in front of the camera this week he only had one Mission:Impossible – to be seen meeting his father.
The Duke has faced every camera possible since landing on Monday and followed the late Queen’s mantra being seen to be believed rather than his post-Megxit stance of being seen to be aggrieved.
Charles gave him only one small window of opportunity as he was due to fly down from Balmoral on Wednesday afternoon for a series of audiences.
And Harry, who had a three-hour gap in the afternoon between events nine miles either side of London during Tube strikes, grabbed it.
It is not important that the meeting between father and son only lasted only 53 minutes – which is almost double the time he got 19 months ago.
It is not even important to know what they spoke about during their ‘private tea’.
What is important for Harry is that he makes the world aware that the King invited him for tea and he accepted.
This is no end of a rift, it isn’t heralding Harry’s return to the UK and is not the King forgiving his son for five years of trashing the Royals.
But Harry has barely paused for breath this week including hugging with sick children, giving a jig at a community centre, making several speeches and even donating £1.1m to Children In Need.
And if he had flown home today without seeing the King it would for Harry the trip would have been a failure and a disaster.
Instead for the California-based royal who has thrown on his family for the past five years he will feel its mission accomplished.
