After the Clarence House Meeting: Harry Moves Towards the King and Hits a Wall with William
News reports revealed a significant advancement in the reconciliation process between Prince Harry and King Charles, after a year since the launch of what was known as "Operation Bring Harry in from the Cold". However, these efforts still clash with Prince William's steadfast position rejecting any rapprochement with his brother.
These developments came after the private meeting that brought Harry together with his father the King at "Clarence House" last week, which lasted for 54 minutes, marking their first meeting in about 18 months. This meeting is seen as a significant step towards the estranged prince's return to the royal family's embrace.
In a related context, close sources told the "Daily Mail" that King Charles may see Harry's presence as a pressure factor to push his eldest son, Prince William, and his wife Kate Middleton to increase their public activity. The sources revealed that "despite his cancer diagnosis, the King undertook 175 official engagements last year, compared to only 107 for William".
In contrast, the rift between the brothers appears wider than ever. Sources close to William indicate that he has become "more determined to completely distance himself from Harry", and it is said that he "gets angry if his brother's name is mentioned in front of him". According to the same sources, the heir apparent sees Harry as "a non-existent person" – a term that was used by Queen Mother Elizabeth to refer to people who were erased from her life.
On another note, royal author Tina Brown commented on the situation, saying: "The King is currently angrier with William than with Harry, especially due to his lack of official activity and numerous vacations".
Meanwhile, Prince Harry, who is 41 years old, continues his efforts to repair his public image in the UK. He recently donated £1.1 million to charity and reconnected with his previous charities and some palace aides. He has also formed a team separate from his wife Meghan Markle, consisting of advisors with royal and military experience, while she continues to focus on her own projects in the United States.
Harry hopes that King Charles will make a public gesture "inviting the people to accept him again, just as the late Queen did when she asked the public to accept Camilla as the King's wife". He also wishes for the royal family to attend the opening ceremony of the "Invictus Games" in Birmingham in 2027, although "security concerns reduce the chances of Meghan and the children attending", while William's presence seems "almost impossible" at this time.
Despite all the challenges, close sources confirm that Harry "is playing the long game and does not intend to give up", admitting that "rebuilding his relationship with his brother is the hardest challenge of all".
