A former royal staffer has analysed Prince Harry's damaged relationship with his father, King Charles, after the latest updates of their PR teams' meeting, which sparked reconciliation hopes between the two camps. The King's and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's senior aides met in London last week for a "secret peace summit," which was seen as a "first step" towards repairing their strained relationship.

Harry was represented by Meredith Maines, his chief communications officer and head of his household in Montecito, California, who flew in from Los Angeles, while his Liam Maguire, who runs the Sussexes' PR team in the UK, was also present. The King was represented by his communications secretary, Tobyn Andreae, according to the Mail on Sunday. The duke and the monarch saw their relationship go sour after Harry's bombshell departure from the Firm in 2020 and subsequent claims against the royals.

Now, former royal butler Grant Harrold delved into the secret meeting in London and talked about Harry and Charles's damaged relationship.

Mr Harrold previously worked for the King from 2004 until 2011.

He said on behalf of Genting Casino: "It's a really good sign in principle [the secret meeting]. The fact they’ve got their teams speaking to each other is progress.

"We don’t know if it was their idea or their teams’ idea, but I think it has to come from them."

But he added that the meeting showed just how "complicated things are".

He explained: "It’s not just them picking up the phone.

"It’s so damaged it’s got to be done in a more diplomatic and careful way, so there are no misunderstandings."

Mr Harrold said that the Duke is "trying to win his father back" and work out how it's possible for both parties to move forward.

He concluded: "[Harry] said his father won’t speak to him, so maybe this is them trying to work through that."