Prince Harry’s latest move to share his schedule with the royal family smells like a calculated step to patch things up.
Fox News reported that the Duke of Sussex, now living in California, is reportedly eager to mend fences with King Charles III, who’s battling cancer. But let’s not kid ourselves—trust is a tough nut to crack when past betrayals linger like bad cologne.
In 2020, Harry and Meghan Markle ditched their senior royal roles, citing media harassment and palace neglect. The couple’s tell-all interviews, including a 2021 Oprah sit-down and Harry’s 2023 memoir “Spare,” aired dirty laundry about the House of Windsor.
This latest olive branch, reported by the U.K.’s Daily Mail, aims to ease tensions by coordinating schedules to avoid clashing with royal events.
Harry’s camp reached out to King Charles’ team in a private July 9 meeting in London. “It’s a positive step,” an insider told People magazine. Sounds nice, but don’t hold your breath—this family’s got more baggage than a transatlantic flight.
The Sussexes’ 2020 exit to Montecito wasn’t exactly a quiet retreat. Their public gripes, especially Harry’s accusations against Queen Camilla for leaking stories, turned palace halls into a soap opera set. “Spare” didn’t help, spilling embarrassing royal secrets and deepening the rift.
In February 2024, Harry briefly met with Charles after the king’s cancer diagnosis was announced. Sources say Charles, now 76, has since dodged Harry’s calls and letters. That’s not a warm fuzzy reunion—it’s a cold shoulder with a crown.
Harry told the BBC in May he’s ready to reconcile, saying, “There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore.” Noble words, but when your memoir trashes your stepmom, words alone don’t cut it. The royal family’s skepticism runs deeper than a London fog.
Harry’s offer to share his diary of engagements is pitched as a transparency play. The Daily Mail reports it’s meant to prevent the Sussexes’ events, like Harry’s Angola trip honoring Princess Diana, from overshadowing royal milestones, such as Queen Camilla’s 78th birthday. Convenient timing, or just bad luck?
“This is a practical move that will be appreciated,” royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital.
Appreciated, maybe, but it’s a stretch to call it a game-changer when trust is scarcer than a sunny day in London. The royals aren’t exactly rolling out the red carpet.
British expert Hilary Fordwich isn’t buying Harry’s gesture either. “King Charles III is now more guarded than ever, indeed somewhat traumatized by a string of betrayals,” she told Fox News Digital. Ouch—that’s not the sound of a family reunion in the works.
Prince William and his team are keeping Harry at arm’s length. Fordwich noted that William considers reconciliation a “grave mistake,” with his courtiers wary of more “bombshells” from the Sussexes. No surprise there—when your brother’s memoir paints you as the bad guy, forgiveness doesn’t come easy.
William and Kate Middleton were reportedly clueless about the July 9 meeting between Harry’s aides and Charles’s team.
“They were not asked to send anyone,” a friend told the Daily Mail. That’s not just a snub; it’s a fortress wall between the brothers.
“It’s no coincidence that William and Catherine did not have a representative [at the meeting],” the same friend said. When your own family leaks your peace talks to the press, it’s no wonder William’s camp smells a rat.
Harry’s move might spark a chat with Charles, but don’t expect a heart-to-heart anytime soon. “If there is to be any proper reconciliation, the royal family does not need to move at anything other than a glacial pace,” Fordwich said. Translation: Harry’s got to prove he’s not just playing nice for headlines.
Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner sees a glimmer of hope, calling Harry’s gesture “a very significant departure and development.” But when your family’s trust is shattered, a shared calendar is like putting a Band-Aid on a broken leg. It’s a start, but it’s not surgery.
