In what appears to be the most significant indication yet of a potential reconciliation between Prince Harry and King Charles, senior staff members from both sides discreetly met in London last week to begin what insiders describe as an “initial conversation” aimed at repairing their fractured relationship.
Photos published by the Mail on Sunday captured Meredith Maines—Prince Harry’s chief of staff and communications head—arriving at the Royal Over-Seas League near Clarence House on July 9.
She was accompanied by Liam Maguire, who oversees U.K. media for Harry and Meghan, and Tobyn Andreae, King Charles’ communications secretary.
Sources cited by the publication noted that while the meeting lacked a formal agenda, it marked the first direct communication between representatives of the father and son in several years.
“There were things both parties felt needed to be said,” one insider revealed.
“It wasn’t a negotiation, but more of a reopening of communication lines that have been closed for a long time.”
The source emphasized that the discussion was only a preliminary step, with meaningful reconciliation still a long way off: “It’s just the beginning. But the timing felt right. There’s a shared interest in moving forward.”
Behind this apparent breakthrough likely lies months of quiet preparation.
According to PEOPLE, Maines’ trip to London was officially for her regular duties, which include engaging with media, stakeholders, and charity partners connected to the Duke.
Both Buckingham Palace and the Sussexes’ spokesperson declined to comment, maintaining their consistent silence on personal issues involving the royal family.
Prince Harry, however, has recently voiced his willingness to reconcile. In a BBC interview earlier this summer, he remarked, “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore.”
Strains between Harry and the royal household have been public since 2020, when he and Meghan stepped away from their roles as working royals.
The situation further deteriorated after their Oprah interview, a Netflix docuseries, and Harry’s memoir Spare, which revealed personal grievances and long-standing tensions.
Nonetheless, royal watchers suggest that even a low-profile staff meeting like this may indicate a change in direction.
While it doesn’t promise a reunion, the simple fact that representatives from both sides met at all is seen by many as a hopeful sign of renewed openness after years of estrangement.
