A royal expert has dismissed hopes for a full reconciliation between Prince Harry and the Royal Family, despite the recent “secret peace summit”, for one reason. The King’s and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s senior aides met in London last week for a “secret peace summit,” which was seen as a “first step” towards repairing their strained relationship and sparked hopes for a possible reconciliation in the future.
Harry was represented by Meredith Maines, his chief communications officer and head of his household in Montecito, California, who flew in from Los Angeles, while his Liam Maguire, who runs the Sussexes’ PR team in the UK, was also present. The King was represented by his communications secretary, Tobyn Andreae. Prince William’s aides did not attend the meeting.
Now, a royal expert has said that despite reports and sources claiming the meeting was a positive change to the Duke’s ongoing rift with the royals, it is unlikely that he will ever fully reconcile with them as the Prince of Wales will “never forgive” Harry.
The Duke of Sussex made various claims against the royald and his brother in particular, in the years following his sensational depature from the Firm in 2020.
Royal commenator Hugo Vickers told the Sun: “So as for William. It’s much more difficult because the barbs were sent in his direction from Prince Harry, but very much directed towards Catherine.
“That is very insulting, and I think William is likely to be more of an unforgiving person than his father.”
He added: “I think at the moment, if I was advising Prince Harry, I would say, get onto good terms with your father as soon as possible, and then that’s step one and step two, try to get on good terms with your brother.”
Mr Vickers added that there is “always a hope for reconciliation if both sides are prepared to talk.
“We don’t know what they talked about or what their plans were. But that’s a good sign.”
He also accused the Sussex team of staging what the outlet dubbed a “pathetic PR stunt”.
The expert said: “We have to ask ourselves, did some random figure pass by and say, ‘oh, hello there’s Tobyn Andreae talking to the Sussex team – take a photograph and sell it to the newspapers’.
“That seems to me to be a bit far-fetched. I think it’s, first of all, very odd to have a meeting on a balcony if it’s meant to be private.
“And so, secondly, it looks to me as though somebody leaked it, and the obvious people to do that would be the Sussex team. Having done that, of course it’s also absolutely in keeping that they would then deny having done so.
“I don’t think it would be Buckingham Palace. I don’t see what possible gain they would have out of leaking it. I don’t think that they are particularly leakers where I’m afraid I think the Sussex team are.”
The Sussexes have denied leaking details of the London meeting, while Buckingham Palace has declined to comment.