Royal reconciliation may not be as heartfelt as it seems, according to a royal expert who believes Prince Harry and King Charles are playing to the cameras more than healing family wounds.
Following recent reports of a secret peace summit between the Sussex camp and King Charles’ representatives, royal watchers were quick to speculate that progress was finally being made. But now, expert Hugo Vickers is calling it what he believes it truly is — a carefully crafted publicity move.
Speaking to The Sun, Vickers warned that the entire effort might be more about headlines than healing. “They always want to stay in the news,” he said, “because they are celebrities now.”
The comment points directly at the evolving brand of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have consistently made headlines through interviews, documentaries, and tell-all memoirs since stepping back from royal duties.
According to Vickers, a supposed reconciliation is a great story for both sides. He explained, “Let’s face it, if there’s a thought of reconciliation, then this is a good story, because the relations between Prince Harry and his father and his brother particularly, have been very bad.”
These strained relationships have played out in public for years. From Harry’s bombshell Oprah interview to his book Spare, his ongoing feud with Prince William and even Kate Middleton has captivated audiences around the world.
Vickers added that King Charles may genuinely want peace. “The King has stated and even Harry mentions this in his memoirs that he doesn’t want his final years to be filled with misery or rows between his sons.”
This sentiment paints Charles as a father longing for family unity, but experts suggest that healing such deep wounds takes more than quiet meetings and photo ops.
The bigger obstacle may not be Charles at all. According to Vickers, Prince William remains far less forgiving than his father. “It’s much more difficult where William is concerned,” he shared.
The expert noted that many of the most hurtful comments in Harry’s recent interviews and writings were directed not just at William, but at Princess Kate. “That is very insulting,” Vickers said, “and I think William is likely to be more of an unforgiving person than his father.”
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Indeed, royal insiders have said William took particular offense at how his wife was portrayed, both in the Oprah interview and in Spare, where she was depicted as cold and unsupportive.
As it stands, Prince Harry has reportedly not spoken directly with his brother in months. Their communication, if any, is through palace intermediaries or aides, further reinforcing the distance between them.
Despite reports of a so-called breakthrough, the absence of William and Kate from the recent meeting between Harry’s and Charles’ teams has only fueled speculation that the family is still deeply divided.
Some observers have even gone so far as to call the peace summit a form of damage control, meant to soften Harry’s image and rebuild public interest in the monarchy.
Whether intentional or not, the optics of reconciliation certainly do benefit both camps. King Charles appears more compassionate, while Harry gains credibility in his often-repeated claims that he wants peace. But if Hugo Vickers is right, then this entire process may be more about brand management than brotherhood.
With public trust still fragile, it remains to be seen whether these meetings will lead to real healing or fade as another royal PR move that briefly grabbed headlines and nothing more.
For now, one thing is clear that true forgiveness cannot be staged for the cameras, and royal wounds run deeper than a single summit can solve.
