King Charles has been left “saddened and perplexed” by Prince Harry’s claim that Buckingham Palace is “sabotaging” any hope of reconciliation, it has been claimed.
The Duke of Sussex, 41, appeared to accuse royal aides “in grey suits” of leaking information to the press following a meeting with his father, 76, in London earlier this month.
Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, a source close to the estranged royal added that the pair’s bond “is a matter for the two of them and the two of them only”.
The news has been met with disappointment by those close to His Majesty, with one saying officials “have been working behind the scenes to improve what is a delicate but important private family relationship.”
The two met for tea at Clarence House on September 10 — their first face-to-face meeting since February 2024, when Charles was diagnosed with cancer.
On Saturday, The Sun claimed their 50-minute conversation had been “distinctly formal”, with the duke reportedly describing the meeting as “like an official visit”.
Gifts were also exchanged, including a framed photograph, which included an image of the couple’s with their children, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four
But Harry’s office said some of the claims were “categorically false” and the quotes attributed to him were “pure invention”.
A palace spokesman told The Sunday Telegraph: “It’s very sad, especially because everyone has been working hard behind the scenes to make the private relationship work.”
Harry and his wife Meghan, 43, fled the UK for the United States in 2020 after stepping down as working royals.
Since then, Harry claims that courtiers have conspired against him and, previously, against his late mother Princess Diana.
In his 2022 autobiography Spare, he suggested three middle-aged white men “managed to consolidate power through a series of bold Machiavellian manoeuvres”.
The King has made clear to his youngest son that he cannot have a part-time role within the Royal Family.
An insider said that Harry and Meghan want “friendly relations with the King and to be in a position to move between Britain and the States regularly with no fears for their security.”
