Palace insiders believe Prince Harry could make his move while Queen Camilla is away, at a time when King Charles is at his most "vulnerable." On 10th July, Harry, 41, his wife Meghan Markle, 45, and their children Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, enjoyed a top-secret reunion with the 77-year-old monarch and his wife, 79, following a four-year absence. The private gathering took place at Highgrove House, Charles' country residence, according to Buckingham Palace.
Timing and Vulnerability
While Charles made every effort to keep the meeting under wraps, royal commentators have continued to speculate over its finer details. Now, in the aftermath of the reunion, palace insiders are pondering whether Harry could make his next move in his bid for reconciliation with his father, while Camilla is on holiday and Charles is unwinding at Balmoral in Scotland.
British journalist and gossip columnist Rob Shuter wrote in a recent Substack post, "Harry knows his father has a soft spot for him. He also knows that when Charles is relaxed and away from the machinery of the palace, an emotional conversation can become easier."
"Harry knows exactly when his father is most vulnerable," a palace source told Shuter's Naughty But Nice. "Camilla being away removes one of the strongest voices telling Charles to think carefully before responding."
Harry's Understanding of His Father
It is not uncommon for Charles and Camilla to spend periods apart. However, insiders believe that timing is everything for Harry. "Harry understands his father emotionally," the source added. "He knows Charles misses him, and he knows that underneath all the anger, the King wants his son back."
Shuter believes that Harry wouldn't need to make a grand gesture and that one phone call could "reopen a door that palace officials have worked hard to keep controlled." "Charles can be incredibly firm as King, but Harry knows how to reach Charles as a father," the source told Naughty But Nice. "That is the vulnerability."
Possible Public Apology
Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan are reportedly "considering a public apology" to Charles in a bid to overhaul their ties with the Royal Family. Shuter previously reported on his Substack that multiple sources told Naughty But Nice that serious discussions have taken place regarding whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex ought to issue a public apology to assist in rebuilding their relationship with Charles and the Royal Family.
"This isn't about Harry and Meghan admitting they were wrong about everything," one insider told Naughty But Nice. "It's about acknowledging that the past five years have caused enormous pain. The debate now is over what an apology should say—and, just as importantly, what it shouldn't," the insider continued.
Sources indicate that those involved are fully aware that mending the fractured relationship between Harry and the Royal Family will require considerably more than private conversations. "Everyone agrees trust has to be rebuilt," another source told Naughty But Nice. "The challenge is finding language that gives the King the respect he wants without forcing Harry and Meghan to walk back every interview, documentary, or page of Spare."
Insiders told the publication that several drafts of a potential apology statement have been deliberated over. Rather than revisiting every contentious point from recent years, the focus would instead centre on regret over the fractured relationship. "An apology doesn't have to be a surrender," a palace source told Naughty But Nice. "It's an acknowledgment that this family feud went too far. Charles wants peace—but he also wants respect. This could be the first real step toward both."
Camilla's Role and William's Concerns
Meanwhile, Camilla's alleged "interference" in Harry and Charles' recent reunion has reportedly unsettled palace insiders, particularly William. According to Vanity Fair's sources, Camilla, who was staying at her Ray Mill House estate at the time, drove to Highgrove for the meeting in "quite a hurry" to be there for "moral support" because she had been a "pillar of strength" for Charles "throughout all the drama with Harry, and she dropped everything."
Nevertheless, an insider has since told Radar Online, "Camilla argues that she was there to watch over things and keep an eye on Meghan because she doesn't trust her. She insists she only agreed to go because Charles needed her there to support him and protect him, but William isn't buying that." The source added, "As far as he's concerned, it was a classic case of her trying to divide and conquer, and he's furious she inserted herself into such a sensitive meeting without his backing. He has never trusted her, and the only thing they've agreed on in recent years is how poisonous Meghan and Harry are - so the fact that she's gone behind his back and made this show of welcoming them has set all his alarms ringing."
Moreover, the Prince of Wales reportedly believed that the Queen Consort harboured more sinister motives with her appearance at the reunion. She wished to deliver him a message that she remains "more in power," given that he and Kate were kept completely unaware about the meeting. The insider said, "He's convinced this was her way of trying to undermine his authority and send the message that she's still got more power than he does, and he's livid."
Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair royal correspondent, reported that Charles, "who has sworn his youngest son and daughter-in-law to secrecy," demanded that nothing about their meeting be leaked. Only palace aides were given the okay to confirm the reunion took place after the Sussexes left Highgrove House without being spotted. A source close to Charles told Nicholl that the hour-long meeting was "completely cloak-and-dagger, orchestrated by the king."
Meanwhile, as Charles and Camilla's trust in Harry and Meghan is up in the air, former royal butler Grant Harrold claims it is likely they're keeping a "close eye" on Meghan in case she chooses to jeopardise the fragile trust she has with them.
