A senior royal aide dubbed “The Wasp” in Harry’s memoir may soon step down, potentially clearing the path for peace between father and son.
King Charles’ inner circle could be on the verge of a major change, as whispers grow that one of his most trusted advisers might soon step away. The timing is striking, coming amid renewed tension surrounding Harry and Meghan’s ongoing rift with the royal family.
At the centre of the speculation is Sir Clive Alderton, the King’s long-serving private secretary, often referred to as the monarch’s “gatekeeper.” Alderton has reportedly had a strained relationship with the Duke of Sussex for years, with their disagreements dating back to the period before Harry stepped down from royal duties nearly five years ago.
In his memoir Spare, Harry described a senior aide he nicknamed “The Wasp,” believed to be Alderton, criticising him as “arrogant” and “great at pretending to be polite.” The Duke even warned that the official could “give you such a stab with his outsized stinger that you’d cry out in confusion.” Insiders say the two men have long been at odds over access, communication, and influence within the palace.
Now, royal author Tina Brown reports in her Substack newsletter Fresh Hell that Alderton, 57, is “considering retirement.” According to what she describes as an “intimate royal source,” his departure could open the door to improved communication between Harry and his father. Brown suggests that a new private secretary, one without history with the Duke, could help lay the groundwork for a friendlier path forward.
The speculation comes at a tense time for the monarchy. In another ongoing royal drama, Prince Andrew has reportedly managed to hold onto his residence at Royal Lodge despite King Charles’ attempts to have him relocated. The Duke of York’s apparent victory follows reports that the King sought to pressure him by cutting funding for security and reducing his allowance, though Andrew remains firmly in place.
If Alderton does step aside, it would mark the end of an influential era within Clarence House — and perhaps the beginning of a cautious thaw in the King’s relationship with his younger son.
