Royal experts say Palace insiders may be undermining Duke’s reconciliation efforts
Harry has been backed by royal commentators after his pointed reaction to reports about his recent meeting with King Charles.
The Duke of Sussex met his father on 10 September for a private tea at Clarence House. The visit, which lasted less than an hour, was initially seen as a step towards healing their strained relationship. But British press reports quickly downplayed the significance, suggesting the meeting was strictly “formal” and carried no chance of Harry returning in any royal capacity.
Speculation grew after claims that Harry could be offered a limited arrangement allowing him to attend public events in Britain without resuming his role as a working royal. Those rumours prompted a strong response from Harry’s side. A source close to him said, “The relationship between the Duke and His Majesty The King is a matter for the two of them and the two of them only. The men in grey suits should stay out of it.”
'He's blaming 'the men in grey suits... blaming the Palace saying it is a concerted attempt by those advising the King.'
— GB News (@GBNEWS) September 28, 2025
Royal Commentator Richard Palmer discusses Prince Harry's claims that his attempted reconciliation with the Royal Family is being sabotaged. pic.twitter.com/cIT7zNc9qy
Royal correspondent Richard Palmer said Harry is justified in pushing back, noting that he appears genuinely committed to reconciliation with his father. Palmer added that on closer examination, the talk of backroom schemes aligned with Harry’s concerns. “I had originally thought these stories came from junior officials who only had part of the picture,” Palmer explained. “But Harry believes senior Palace advisers are deliberately working against his efforts to rebuild ties.”
Palmer also pointed out that Harry’s sensitivity to such stories is tied to the memory of Diana, with echoes of the struggles she faced against Palace machinery. For Harry, the suggestion that courtiers are once again blocking progress makes the issue deeply personal.
