This month has seen a time of reconciliation and recompense for the Royal Family as, after months of estrangement, Prince Harry finally got his wish to reunite with King Charles.
After flying into London to attend a charity event, Harry, 41, was photographed attending a meeting with Charles at his home of Clarence House, where the father and son are believed to have spent an hour together over tea.
Their brief reunion was the first time the pair have seen each other face-to-face for 19 months, with Harry later emotionally pledging that his ‘focus’ for the year’ has to be on 'my dad’, who is receiving ongoing treatment for cancer.
Now a source tells heat that Harry is ‘thrilled’ that Charles, 76, has once again allowed his ‘wayward’ son into his inner sanctum.
The insider says, ‘He’s thrilled and feels this is karma finally rewarding him, whilst he believes William has been vindictive and immature.
‘He knows William hates him and that it’ll become a huge issue as and when his brother eventually becomes King. But in the meantime the tide is very clearly turning in his favour and he’s loving every second!'
While Charles appears to be open to putting the now infamous family feud with Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, 44, behind him, it was reported at the time of their meeting that Prince William is opposed to what has been dubbed as the Sussexes’ ‘Operation Bring Harry Back In From The Cold’.
One insider said, ‘William is back at the point where he simply doesn’t want to hear mention of Prince Harry.'
A source also told us that William, 43, is so sceptical of his younger brother’s motives that he is warning Charles and others that the Sussexes could still be wolves in sheep’s clothing who aren’t to be trusted.
‘William hates that Harry has wormed his way back to his father’s affections because, to him, it’s just wrong on every level,’ they said.
Meanwhile, Harry is bound to have raised a few hackles with certain members of The Firm after denying that he aired his ‘dirty laundry’ in his explosive 2023 memoir, Spare, instead claiming, ‘My conscience is clear’.
He went on to explain that the book, in which he describes in detail the time he alleges William ‘assaulted' him over his romance with Meghan, was ‘not about revenge’ but ‘accountability’.
Now the insider says that Harry is sticking by his word. ‘When it comes to his feud with William, Harry is very open in saying his conscience is crystal clear,’ the insider says.
‘He’s tried endless times to mend fences through phone calls, text messages, emails, all of which have been totally ignored. Harry would also argue that he’s even tried to talk to William one-one-one on the rare occasions they’ve come face to face in the UK in recent years.
‘But he insists his brother’s wanted no part of peace and that he’s banished him and Meghan from his own personal universe.
The 19th of September significantly marked three years since Prince Harry and Prince William were last reported to have ‘briefly’ spoken to one another at the funeral of their grandmother amidst the sad rift that has torn the Royal Family apart.
The two estranged brothers, who almost 30 years ago were a picture of unity as they walked side-by-side behind their mother’s coffin, were forced to be in the same room together for their uncle’s funeral last August, but they reportedly barely looked at one another – confirming the devastating truth that they are now all but strangers.
However, after it was reported that William is still ‘furious’ over the claims, including those of bullying and racism, which Harry and Meghan have levelled at the royals in the nearly-six years since they stepped down as senior working royals.
But now our source says Harry is overjoyed that his father appears to have forgiven what his older brother cannot.
The insider says, ‘It saddens Harry immensely, but he’s had to accept that his only sibling was and still is, at this moment in time, an enemy and most certainly not an ally. ‘For so long it looked like there was no hope in him continuing to chip away in the hope of a reunion with The King. But he persevered and told himself it would be worth it if his father managed to let bygones be bygones and he could at least spend some precious time with him whilst he still can.’
They add, ‘The fact William reacted so badly to it is unfortunate, but it is what it is and frankly Harry’s feeling quite smug to have proved his brother wrong and won back his father’s ear.’
Harry has made his hopes to reconcile with the royals clear for months after seemingly moving away from further discussing his family feud since Spare.
Meghan, however – who was seen attending Kevin Costner’s charity event with Harry earlier this week – has been building her own brand and filming for her Netflix Show, With Love, Meghan, in the US and has reportedly vowed never to return to the UK.
Yet after seeing Harry, with whom she shares Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, with, so isolated from his roots in England, the insider says she could come around to the idea.
‘Meghan’s pleased in principle but she still has her reservations, in particular over the issue of visiting the UK,’ they tell us.
‘But for Harry it’s a massive win and he’s looking to build on his father’s softened stance for all it’s worth.’
William, however, remains completely devoted to Kate Middleton, 43, with the pair looking close in Southport last week during a visit. And the source says that Harry believes the Princess of Wales could be his last chance to build bridges with his brother.
They tell us, ‘One day he hopes that the King, Kate and others with sense can talk William into doing the right thing and sit down for peace talks with him, whilst also honouring Meghan. ‘Until then he’s not interested in grovelling to his brother and he’s happy to take a little lap of honour, so to speak – after all, he’s pulled off a pretty impressive feat!’