King Charles and Prince Harry have been taking steps towards reconciliation, but everyone understands that, after the issues the two have had, ending their feud isn’t just a matter of wishing it. After reports that Prince Harry had his own list of requests to go on with the reconciliation, there are now rumors that King Charles has his own ground rules, too, for the upcoming meeting.
“Charles does want to meet Harry,” a royal insider told Us Weekly. “He doesn’t want this falling-out to overshadow his legacy. But Harry has caused chaos and hurt, so it’s complicated.” Royal historian Marlene Koenig added: “If there is a meeting, it will be private and more likely to be on the king’s terms rather than Harry’s.”
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This all seemed very far away just a few months ago. In May, a British court upheld its decision to remove Prince Harry’s automatic police protection in the U.K., something Harry said his father could easily change. However, he soon expressed a desire to turn over a new leaf. “I would love reconciliation with my family,” he said, adding that, “There’s no point continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has. He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile.”
However, in July, a meeting between senior aides for the two gave people hope. And the fact that aides were photographed together was likely orchestrated, the royal insider told the outlet, to “allow the public to warm up to the idea” of Charles and Harry reconciling. “It [would take] time for the public to get used to it,” the insider added, “but ultimately, the public wants them to make amends.”
That takes us to now. “A meeting is feasible, and both sides are open to it,” the royal insider said. “This marks the first tentative steps of a reconciliation.” Reportedly, there’s a “high” likelihood the two do meet, but the meeting is not expected to be “in-depth,” but instead a brief meeting that sets the stage for the future.
However, not everyone is sure the meeting will indeed take place. The King is scheduled to host US President Donald Trump from September 17-19, and that will be the priority. “It’s a state visit and takes precedence.” Considering Prince Harry is supposed to be in the UK over a week before, it feels like there should be time for a quick face-to-face reunion.
If the two don’t get to meet in September, there’s still a chance they could meet if Prince Harry were to attend the Christmas Cotswold Fair in November.
“This meetup is make-or-break,” the royal insider added. “If it goes well, it could lead to other family members being open to better relationships. If things get leaked negatively, then it’s done, and there’s no chance [for peace].”
All of this comes as RadarOnline reported that the King’s health has taken a turn for the worse, which could add some urgency to the possible meeting. “He is now shuffling around with a cane – and hitting the bottle, and in particular whisky, to numb the pain and despair he feels.” The outlet described it as “a sad end for him,” with sources saying “his health has deteriorated significantly in recent months.”
It feels like the time is now for King Charles and Prince Harry to put this feud to rest. But will they?
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