Courtiers are reportedly “saddened and perplexed” after Prince Harry’s team alleged members of King Charles’ inner circle were attempting to sabotage their reconciliation.
The Duke of Sussex recently saw his father in London for the first time in 18 months in a major sign father and son were mending their years-long rift.
However, sources at the palace allegedly leaked details about the meeting within days, prompting the Sussex camp to publicly accuse members of the King’s team of sabotaging the reunion.
Over the weekend, a source inside the palace hit back at Harry’s allegations and insisted royal aides were not leaking against the Duke of Sussex.
“The reality is that senior aides have been working behind the scenes to improve what is a delicate but important private family relationship,” a royal source told The Sunday Times.
The Sussex camp’s accusation was presumably in response to a report in The Sun newspaper claiming Harry’s meeting with his father was “distinctly formal.”
The newspaper went on to claim that the meeting left the Duke of Sussex feeling more like an “official visitor” to the UK, rather than a close family member.
Curiously, Harry’s spokesperson told Page Six that the reporting was “categorically false” but did admit some details of the meeting – like the fact the pair exchanged gifts – were correct.
“Recent reporting of The Duke’s view of the tone of the meeting is categorically false,” the spokesperson said.
“The quotes attributed to him are pure invention fed, one can only assume, by sources intent on sabotaging any reconciliation between father and son.
“Presumably, those same sources have also chosen to disclose that gifts were exchanged.”
It is understood the reason Harry’s team believes the leaks were coming from Charles’ camp was because the source had accurately described specific details, including the framed photo Harry gave his father.
The representative confirmed that Harry presented a photo to his dad, as reported by Page Six and other outlets.
“While we would have preferred such details to remain private, for the sake of clarity, we can confirm that a framed photograph was handed over, however, the image did not contain the Duke and Duchess,” the spokesperson said.
“The Duke has made it clear that the focus, as it relates to his family, is his father — beyond that, and on any other issues as it relating to the Royal family, we won’t be commenting.”