King Charles heaped praise on Prince William during a state banquet for the Sultan of Oman at Windsor Castle, just hours after Prince Harry publicly pleaded for reconciliation with his family.
The King, speaking in St George's Hall, said he was "especially delighted" to see William and Sayyid Theyazin, the Sultan's son, become joint patrons of the Jewel of Arabia Expedition. He did not mention his younger son, Harry, in his address.
Harry's Reconciliation Plea
Earlier in the day, Prince Harry told GQ magazine he "wants it to work out" with his family, but claimed others "don't want to". A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex insisted the comments were not a "swipe" at his brother, although they are likely to be interpreted as such.
Harry also spoke about his father's health, saying: "Yes but, you know, he's getting better," when asked whether having a sick parent was triggering after the death of his mother.
State Banquet for the Sultan of Oman
The banquet, attended by Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prime Minister Andy Burnham and senior Cabinet members, featured a Scottish crab and langoustine starter, Windsor pheasant main and baked Alaska for dessert.
William and Theyazin sat together among the 160 guests. Charles praised Oman's "noble efforts" in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, describing it as a "great service" to the international community.
Royal Heirs' Expedition
The two heirs were figureheads of the Jewel of Arabia Expedition, a 30-day journey on foot, by camel and by 4x4 staged last year through Oman, following the route of British explorer Bertram Thomas in 1928.
Charles added: "Your Majesty, there can be few happier symbols of success than a living relationship being passed from one generation to the next."
Harry's GQ interview also covered his return to the UK, where he said he moved back for "opportunities, for the family, and that being able to put the kids in a British schools meant a lot to me". He said his children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, are "loving" their new school and that it is "so important" for them to have two "completely different cultural experiences".
