Prince Harry and King Charles’ reunion 'couldn’t have happened' without Queen Camilla

Prince Harry and King Charles' reunion would not have taken place without Queen Camilla, a royal author has claimed.

The King reportedly spent just over an hour with his youngest son Harry, his wife Meghan Markle, and the couple’s children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet during a private meeting at Highgrove House last week (10 July) marking the first time the monarch had seen his grandchildren in years.

Royal insiders described it as an important step towards repairing one of the family's most public fallouts.

Camilla was a part of their reunion, according to royal author Catherine Mayer. Speaking to PEOPLE, she said: “She is a non-negotiable part of Charles’ life. There is no reconciliation with him without her.”

A reconciliation could not have happened without Queen Camilla, an expert has claimed (Isabel Infantes - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Harry and Camilla haven’t always been on the best of terms. In 2023, Harry discussed adjusting to his step-mother and his father’s new relationship. He described her in a 60 Minutes interview as a ‘villain’ and the ‘third person in the marriage’, echoing Princess Diana’s controversial interview with Martin Bashir in 1995, in which his mother said there were ‘three of us in the marriage’.

The details of the reunion have been kept private. It marked the first time the King had seen his grandchildren in four years, as they live with Harry and Meghan in California.

“It is better that people don’t know anything about these meetings,” a royal source told the same publication. “They should be allowed to rekindle those family ties.”

Meghan and their two children were at the reunion to meet with the King and Queen. Royal experts have also commented on Prince William and Kate not attending the reunion.

Royal commentator Helena Chard believes William and Kate Middleton staying away wasn't intended as a public snub, but rather reflected the reality of where things currently stand.

She claimed to Fox News that there is still a 'total blackout' between the brothers and suggested there is little sign their relationship is improving anytime soon.

She also argued that any lasting reconciliation within the monarchy would ultimately need William's involvement, given his future role as king.

The private meeting has been interpreted as a sign of the thawing of the relationship (Anadolu / Contributor / Getty Images)

Meanwhile, royal expert Hilary Fordwich claimed to the outlet that William remains reluctant to trust Harry following years of public tensions, while broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner said the publication of Harry's memoir Spare continues to cast a long shadow over their relationship.

Various reports also suggest the brothers have not spoken since Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022.

Charles has reportedly always wanted to maintain a relationship with Archie and Lilibet, particularly while continuing cancer treatment, with family said to have become an even greater priority. Royal insiders also claim both sides were keen to keep the meeting private, believing discretion offers the best chance of rebuilding trust behind closed doors.