A senior aide to King Charles III has reportedly pledged to heal the rift between Princes William and Harry, which has caused the monarch 'great pain'. Theo Rycroft, appointed as the King's private secretary in December 2024, is said to view the ongoing feud as 'f*****g ridiculous' and aims to bring the estranged brothers together.
According to a source cited by the Mail, Rycroft believes the situation has become untenable and 'thinks it's time to knock their heads together'. The source added that the mood within the Palace is that 'he's not wrong', and that Rycroft understands the feud causes significant distress to the King, seeing his role as helping to resolve it.
Rycroft, a former diplomat who served as minister and deputy head of mission at the British Embassy in Paris from 2021 to 2025, is described as a calm and shrewd operator. He is reportedly close to Prince William, having worked with him on high-profile engagements, including a meeting with Donald Trump during the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral.
The warring princes have not spoken since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. William is said to have banned any mention of Harry following the publication of Harry's memoir 'Spare' and the fallout from the Sussexes' departure from royal duties, including allegations of racism made during an Oprah Winfrey interview.
Rycroft's efforts may include facilitating a meeting between the King and Harry when the latter visits the UK for the Invictus Games in Birmingham next year. The source indicated that Rycroft would not block such a meeting, noting that after a successful state visit to the US last month, he is 'the most respected man in the building right now'.
