Prince William could have had a “secret role” to play during last week’s peace talks between Prince Harry and King Charles’s aides, a royal expert has claimed. The Duke of Sussex’s chief communications officer Meredith Maines and Maguire, who runs the Sussexes’ PR team in the UK were snapped on a balcony close to Clarence House in London having a chat with Tobyn Andreae, the King’s communications secretary.
The “secret peace summit” between the two camps was seen as a “first step” towards repairing their strained relationship. But while the Prince of Wales’s aides were not present during the meeting, a royal commentator suggested the future King could have had an influence.
Harry and William have not been on speaking terms for a while, with the duo’s frosty relationship being evident during their uncle, Lord Fellowes’ funeral last summer.
But royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said that while William may be harder to crack when it comes to a possible reconciliation between Harry and the royals, the London meeting would not have happened without his “support and understanding”.
Mr Fitzwilliams told the Mail: “The King would never have made these moves without William’s support and understanding.
“William and Catherine are the future of the monarchy.
“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.
“Ideally, the Sussexes might like to drive a wedge between the King and the heir to the throne. They won’t succeed.”
Meanwhile, royal author Phil Dampier held a different opinion: “The King is more anxious to patch things up than William, who I believe will never be close to his brother again.
“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 added: “I have grave doubts that William will ever forgive his brother and this will confirm his worst fears that Harry and Meghan are trying to manipulate the situation to their own ends.”
