Amid the rather gloomy new King Charles had updated his funeral plans last week, there was a glimmer of hope for those hoping to see the royal rift healed, as it was also revealed estranged son Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle would be at the heart of the proceedings.
And, sources say that while both Prince William and Kate Middleton were key in the decision to include the renegade couple, Charles, 76, has also made a pact with his daughter-in-law to bring Harry back into the fold sooner rather than later.
‘Charles values the Waleses’ advice enormously, particularly when it comes to the Sussexes,’ an insider tells heat. ‘While William is still staunchly opposed to having any contact with Harry, he does agree that his brother should attend his father’s funeral and excluding him would be wrong. Kate agrees and thinks they should reach out to Harry now – and as frustrating as this olive branch may seem, it’s a step in the right direction. Both Kate and Charles are now hoping they can build on it.’
The source continues, ‘Charles has had enough of the fighting. He wants Harry back, so he’s counting on Kate to smooth things over with William. Charles has realised it’s important to cherish every moment, and doesn’t want to live the rest of his life without speaking to Harry again. Kate has promised Charles she’ll do everything she can to bring everyone together. They both feel confident William will be won over in the end.’
While it may seem morbid and premature to discuss the King’s funeral arrangements, planning for huge events such as state funerals often occurs decades in advance. According to reports, Harry, 40, will be expected to walk alongside his brother – who will be the new King – at the forefront of the central London procession. Harry and Meghan, 43, who have been based in America since 2020, will also be invited to take part in the family vigil during the lying-in-state at Westminster Hall, and will play a prominent role alongside the most senior royals during the funeral service.
Their children, Archie, six, and four-year-old Lilibet, have also been included, and – if they wish – will attend both the funeral service at Westminster Abbey and the committal at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. The news follows recent revelations that Charles is desperate to build a relationship with his California-based grandchildren, as he has only met them a handful of times.
In recent years, Kate, 43, and Charles have also grown closer, in part due to their respective battles with cancer. In January 2024, the King visited his daughter-in-law at the London Clinic when they were both in for surgery. Charles also reportedly had an 'emotional' heart-to-heart over a lunch at Windsor in March 2024, before her diagnosis was announced. The Palace praised the princess' decision to go public, saying the King was 'so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did'.
While Kate is now in remission, Charles is still receiving treatment, and our source says, 'The King has always respected Kate. He sees her as the glue that holds the family together. He thinks she's level-headed and intelligent, and that her compassionate approach to life is hugely inspirational.'
The source continues, 'The admiration is mutual – Kate looks up to Charles and is proud to be one of his most trusted confidants. Their illness brought them even closer, and they are a big source of strength to each other. Kate sends him care packages, which means so much to Charles.'
Harry and Meghan's relationship with the royal family has been strained almost from the start. It was reported that the Duchess of Sussex made her sister-in-law cry in the run up to her 2018 wedding. But three years later, Meghan claimed that was Kate who reduced her to tears over a disagreement about flower-girl dresses. She went on to claim that information was suppressed by the Palace, who instead fed the media the negative story about her.
In his 2023 memoir Spare, Harry alleged he and William, 43, had a physical altercation, after the heir branded Meghan 'difficult', 'rude' and 'abrasive'.
Thing shave shown no signs of letting up. Last month, Harry gave a bombshell interview after losing his court battle for UK state-funded security, in which he claimed the King wasn't speaking to him. He revealed, 'I don't know how much longer my father has [left].' Despite the explosive claims, Harry said, 'It would be nice to reconcile.'
Our insider confirms that the Duke is now desperate to make peace. 'Harry knows the onus is on him to back down, especially with his father's ill health,' we're told. 'Meghan's view is that the royals need to make the effort, but Harry is so sick of all the fighting.'