Prince Harry will never be allowed to return as a ‘half-in, half out’ working royal – and claims he could ‘take some of the load off’ his brother, Prince William, are ‘wide of the mark’.
Insiders reacted angrily on Sunday night to briefings by sources apparently close to the Duke of Sussex that his recent meeting with King Charles, at the end of what his team believes was a hugely successful charity trip to the UK, signalled a ‘thawing of their relationship’ and the ‘acceptance’ of his family ‘back into the royal fold’.
The same sources also suggest it could even be the start of a new working model for the ex-royal.
He now apparently plans to return to Britain ‘four or five times year’ for ‘public events’, both for his own charitable initiatives and, potentially, in support of the Royal Family.
Referring to the briefings, however, a royal insider told the Daily Mail: ‘Whoever is behind them seems to have mistaken a brief tea and a slice of cake for the Treaty of Versailles.’
It is also clear there are fears that some in ‘Team Harry’ may be using this month’s ‘baby step’ forwards in the broken relationship between father and son to, perhaps sinisterly, drive a wedge between the King and his elder son and heir.
They have repeated unsubstantiated claims that ‘tensions’ are brewing between the King and Prince William over the apparent lightness of his workload.
One royal insider said: ‘These syrupy briefings from supposed Sussex sources are precisely why The King and Royal family are so hesitant to embark on any road to rapprochement. If the intention is to encourage a rebuilding of trust and relationships, they serve the precise opposite effect.
Prince Harry, pictured during a visit to the UK this month, will never be allowed to return as a ‘half-in, half out’ working royal, according to insiders
‘As last week’s State Visit clearly demonstrated, the power and impact of the modern monarchy lies in the unshakeable bond between The King and the Prince of Wales, supported by other working members of the family.’
This was a reference to the historic trip by President Trump which saw the King, Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales undertake both joint and separate engagements with the US leader and First Lady.
Afterwards Mr Trump spoke warmly of the honour he felt, and was fulsome in his praise for all working members of the family, in what was widely seen as a diplomatic triumph for the UK and prime example of the incalculable ‘soft power’ of the British monarchy.
And in what will be widely interpreted as a warning shot across the bows of those pushing a ‘pro-Harry agenda’, a well-placed royal source told the Daily Mail firmly: ‘The King is a forgiving man but has been absolutely clear in upholding his late mother’s decision that there cannot be “half-in, half-out” members of the working Royal family.’
The latest inflammatory claims were made to the Mail on Sunday newspaper, which reported that ‘high level talks are underway to gradually bring King Charles and Prince Harry together in a public show of unity for the first time in at least six years’.
The pair last appeared at a formal public engagement together in April 2019, although they have been at the same family events such as Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
It is said this is the ‘strongest indication yet’ that Harry, 41, is making ‘positive steps’ towards a reconciliation with senior royals, with ‘courtiers in both households tentatively discussing how to get father and son together more frequently over the next year’ with the aim of ultimately appearing jointly at a public event.
The suggestion that Harry has both a ‘royal household’ and ‘courtiers’ of his own has prompted snorts of surprise here, not least because the prince has made abundantly clear in his numerous attacks on the institution that he sees the whole ‘court set-up’ as at the epicentre of his issues with his family.
The newspaper also said it had been told that Harry agreed to keep a ‘low profile’ during President Trump’s visit as a ‘goodwill gesture’ to this father – another claim that has been met with much rolling of eyes.
It is even claimed that Harry is ‘hopeful’ of re-establishing a relationship with his estranged brother, even though he also admits that some family members might find it difficult to forgive him.
The same sources go so far as suggest that with fewer working royals left, there could be a need for other family members to step in and do the necessary ‘bread-and-butter’ engagements.
Above all, they added, Harry wants to see his 76-year-old father more, ‘make him proud’ and be there to ‘support him’ through his ongoing cancer treatment.
However sources have told the Daily Mail that the latest attempt to put a publicly positive spin on what remains an incredibly delicate situation was ‘entirely predictable and woefully inflated’.
They suggest that Harry’s desperation to rebuild a bridge he chose to burn down on leaving Britain is understandable, but ‘owes more to hope than reality’.
They have not ruled out ‘occasional private family meetings’ like the one that took place earlier this month, describing them as ‘possible’ – although it is also understood that none are currently planned.
But as for any kind of public role alongside the Royal Family, even as a ‘non-working royal’? ‘Absolutely not,’ sources insist.
Their reaction makes clear many think ‘Team Harry’ are over-spinning what was at its heart simply a generous and loving gesture by his father to meet, and in doing so eroding any possibility of developing trust between those involved.
The developments come after Harry and the King spoke for just under an hour at Clarence for the first time in 19 months after he travelled to the UK to undertake a string of public engagements designed to try and rescue his public image in the UK, which has been severely damaged by his repeated attacks on the Royal Family.
Many have said they find his treatment of them, particularly when his grandparents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, were so frail as being unforgivable.
As previously revealed by the Mail, most senior members have had nothing to do with him since, particularly his brother, who has been left deeply hurt by Harry’s calculated betrayal.
The King has also found it impossible to talk to his son for fear of their conversations being leaked, particularly while he was suing the British government over the withdrawal of his security after quitting the UK and moving to North America.
That case ended in ignominious defeat in April, with Harry accusing the British courts of facilitating an ‘Establishment stitch-up’.
