King Charles is reportedly anxious that any private conversation with Prince Harry could be made public, as the Duke of Sussex prepares to visit the UK for the WellChild Awards. Royal expert Katie Nicholl told OK! magazine that the King fears details of a potential reunion might be leaked, given Harry's past disclosures of private family discussions in his memoir Spare.
Nicholl noted that Charles has been 'burned' before, referencing how intimate talks at Prince Philip's funeral were chronicled in Harry's book. 'The reason his father is not speaking to him is because he fears that anything he might say will be made public,' she said. The ball is now in Harry's court to prove he can be trusted.
The rift has also affected Harry's children, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, who are estranged from their grandfather and cousins. Royal commentator Phil Dampier suggested the late Queen would be 'absolutely devastated' by the lack of contact, especially as the children are sixth and seventh in line to the throne.
Dampier added that Harry likely misses his grandmother's guidance but has created a situation from which he cannot easily extricate himself. He predicted that Meghan Markle would not want to return to the UK, given her unpopularity, and that the relationship between William and Harry is 'permanently damaged'.
Despite the deep divisions, Nicholl remains hopeful for a reconciliation between Charles and Harry. 'The King is a magnanimous man and not a malicious man, and he wants a relationship with his youngest son,' she said. However, she stressed it would take time and that Harry must demonstrate he can be trusted.
