Topics: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, King Charles III, Royal Family, UK News
When news broke earlier this year that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would return to the UK with their children, many spectators prayed a royal reconciliation might finally be on the cards.
After all, it's been six years since Harry and Meghan fled to the US, severing their ties with the monarchy while citing severe mistreatment from several senior royals, including Prince William, Kate Middleton and Queen Camilla.
Over the years, however, Harry, 40, has expressed his desire to let bygones be bygones, especially when it comes to his father, King Charles III, who was largely spared from his and Meghan's scathing allegations, but with whom he has endured a fractured relationship ever since.
According to one palace insider, however, Harry's potential meeting with The King during this week's UK visit ahead of the Invictus Games in Birmingham doesn't necessarily indicate either party is willing to leave tensions in the past.
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Speaking to Tyla this week, former royal butler Grant Harrold discussed the significance of Harry's trip - which Meghan and their children recently withdrew from for security reasons - admitting he can't see him and Charles making amends anytime soon.
"Originally, I did think this visit was a genuine olive branch," he admitted, in partnership with OLBG. "However, after everything that has played out this past week, I don’t think it is a possibility at all.
"All the signs initially pointed to this being a peace-keeping mission, but with recent developments at play this is now just a work trip for Harry."
Grant's comments reference the very public disagreement that had last week over where Harry and his family would stay, with his team claiming he had accepted an invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace, while palace sources maintained the offer had effectively lapsed following a delayed response.
The trip was also overshadowed by the ongoing row over security arrangements, with Harry's spokesperson claiming they'd requested suitable protection for Meghan, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in the UK, but had been shut down, forcing the trio to remain in California.
These difficulties, partnered with the claims the Sussexes made against Harry's family in 2020, don't fill Grant with much hope that hostilities might finally be squared away.
"Like any family, when you fall out with a family member, you often can’t just pick up the pieces and continue 'business as usual'," he emphasised. "Healing takes time, and I don’t believe reconciliation would take any longer than a 'regular' family."
Grant, who worked for the former Prince Charles at Highgrove between 2004 and 2011, added: "The difference is the microscope this family is put under.
"With both parties' every move watched, the potential reconciliation is being analysed from every angle, which I can imagine to be very difficult."
It remains unclear whether Harry will, in fact, meet with his father this week, given that no meeting has since been officially confirmed, and both sides are locked in logistical and personal disputes.
Asked how Buckingham Palace officials might be feeling about the situation, Grant claimed: "I think that the Palace would just be concerned over what Harry could potentially say or do.
"They will be keeping a close eye on who he is visiting while he is here, what is being posted on social media and trying to get an understanding of his thought process. Since the offer was withdrawn from the Palace, I believe that they will be waiting to see if there is any retaliation from Harry."
The biggest hurdle at this point, he believes, is 'conflicting misinformation'.
"It is now at a point where the public do not know who is saying what," Grant continued. "Another hurdle is logistics and Harry actually getting to his father.
"With his father being the King, all communications are naturally restricted. This definitely impacts their relationship on a day-to-day basis."
Grant also discussed what a 'successful' visit from the Sussexes might look like in the future.
"A successful visit would be reconciliation, which will not be happening during this trip," he emphasised. "Harry has come here on business, so he will see the trip as a success from a work point of view. He will have a few meetings and head to the Invictus Games.
"The real success would be if the family sat down and resolved their issues."
