Prince Harry may "welcome" the retirement of King Charles' most senior aide, Sir Clive Alderton, but it appears the duke's relief may be misplaced. In his memoir, Harry nicknamed Sir Clive "The Wasp" and portrayed him negatively, leading to speculation that his departure could ease tensions.
Reconciliation Hinges on Trust, Not One Adviser
Royal insider Kinsey Schofield told Page Six: "Harry may welcome Sir Clive's retirement personally, especially after portraying him so negatively in 'Spare'. But if Harry believes one retirement suddenly clears the path back into the Royal Family, I think he'll be disappointed. The trust deficit is far bigger than any one adviser."
Schofield added that reconciliation has always depended less on who advises the King and more on whether Harry can convince his family that history won't repeat itself. She said it is "premature to call this a win for Prince Harry."
Sir Clive Alderton's Retirement Announced
Sir Clive will leave his role next year. The Palace has expressed gratitude for his service. In an email to staff, Sir Clive said he will always support the King and Queen, even if not in a working capacity.
The insider emphasized that the issues fracturing the relationship—trust, confidentiality, and Harry's public criticism—do not disappear because one courtier is retiring. "The obstacle has never simply been Sir Clive Alderton," Schofield said. "The much bigger issue is whether the Royal Family believes they can have private conversations with Harry without seeing them become public."
