Prince Harry may be watching the King's next move closely, hoping it provides an opportunity to return to the royal fold. King Charles may be reluctant to accept a major change to his Royal Household, but it could be exactly the opportunity the Duke of Sussex has been waiting for.
Key aide to step down
Sir Clive Alderton, the monarch's right-hand man of two decades, announced last month that he will step down as principal private secretary in 2027. There was no love lost between Mr Alderton and Harry, who cuttingly nicknamed his father's aide "the Wasp" in his memoir, Spare. Harry suggested that Mr Alderton was among the "men in grey suits" behind the late Queen's refusal to grant him and Meghan Markle a "half-in, half-out" in 2020, writing that the aide would "give you such a stab with his outsized stinger that you'd cry out in confusion".
Palace insiders insist Mr Alderton always acted with the Royal Family's best interests at heart. Even so, the Duke of Sussex may be counting his lucky stars that someone else will soon have his father's ear.
Potential successor
Harry is likely hoping the frontrunner for the £300,000-a-year post, Theo Rycroft, gets the job. Mr Rycroft, currently Mr Alderton's deputy, is said to be trusted by the King - and has reportedly been the driving force behind the tentative Harry-Charles reconciliation.
The timing of that reconciliation may be more than a coincidence. If Mr Alderton saw the prospect of rebuilding bridges with Harry and Meghan as one motivation to retire on his 60th birthday, it would only strengthen the case that his departure clears the way for Harry.
Reactions and implications
Royal author Andrew Lownie told The i newspaper: "I suspect there may have been a bit of a dispute or impasse. I think that once there is a task of building bridges with Harry and Meghan, then Clive may have felt he had had enough."
Tom Sykes, host of The Royalist podcast, went further, labelling Mr Rycroft "chief dove" and suggesting his appointment would be a "huge win for the bring-Harry-back party".
Harry and Meghan's summit with their children and the King at Sandringham last month already hinted at a thaw in relations. The couple may well see Mr Alderton's exit as one more obstacle removed from their path, reviving hopes that a "half-in, half-out" deal is back on the cards. A more sympathetic aide could help to convince the King that the Sussexes should be allowed to split their time between the UK and the US while resuming select royal duties and patronages, with Charles clearly wanting to preserve his relationship with his son and two young grandchildren.
William's opposition
But while celebrations may already be underway in Montecito, Harry shouldn't assume his father's principal private secretary is the only one shaping the King's decisions.
Prince William remains firmly opposed to his brother's return to royal life in any capacity, following years of estrangement rooted in Harry's allegations of racism and physical altercations. Charles may soften his stance toward the Sussexes in the short term, but Harry shouldn't count on a lasting place for his family in Britain.
William is already shaping his own vision for a slimmed-down, modernised monarchy - and going against his grandmother's wishes to reinstate a brother he has kept at arm's length is unlikely to feature anywhere near the top of his list.
