King Charles Extends Prince Harry an Olive Branch — But Palace Staff 'Deeply Hurt,' Insiders Say
Prince Harry could be in for a less-than-warm welcome when he returns to the UK this September due to his problematic past remarks.
Prince Harry is likely looking forward to his return to the UK in September. After all, he will be attending an event for a cause close to his heart and could finally stay at Buckingham Palace, after an olive branch from his father, King Charles. While Charles is reportedly thrilled to welcome his son back, not everyone shares his enthusiasm. A new report now claims Buckingham Palace staff are dreading the Duke's return, with some yet to forgive his past damaging remarks about the institution.
On his Substack, Naughty But Nice, royal columnist Rob Shuter shared insights from sources with knowledge of the drama bubbling behind the scenes. An insider was quoted as saying, "The King may want Harry under his roof, but many of the people who work there don't.
They felt deeply betrayed by everything that followed Spare and the interviews, and that resentment is still very real." The Duke of Sussex is returning to his home country to attend the WellChild Awards, which recognize and honor the resilience of seriously ill children and their families.
That being said, multiple sources clarified that the staff's alleged reluctance was one of the main reasons Charles had rescinded his offer for Harry to stay at the Palace during his July visit. Now, with the September visit approaching, their attitude remains unchanged. An insider revealed, "The atmosphere would be incredibly uncomfortable. People will remain professional because that's their job, but don't mistake professionalism for forgiveness." Sadly for the monarch, while he appears to keep extending goodwill gestures to repair his relationship with his son, his aides seem less than pleased to follow suit.
Adding to the discussion, a Palace source stressed that true reconciliation wasn't just about repairing a relationship between a father and son. They argued, "Harry also has to win back the people who keep the monarchy running every day—and that may be the toughest challenge of all. Don't be surprised if there's an unusual number of staff calling in sick the week he arrives." His informants have previously alleged the same, with one quoted on his Substack as claiming, "Many employees feel deeply hurt by what Harry has said about the royal family. They're fiercely loyal to the institution, and the King didn't want to force them into welcoming someone they believe betrayed it."
In a major step toward repairing their relationship, The Sun reported on June 26 that the King had offered the Duke accommodation at Buckingham Palace during his September visit. If true, his warm gesture marks yet another hopeful sign that the father and son may finally be moving toward reconciliation after six years of public strain. Likewise, Harry's July trip saw him, Meghan Markle, and their two children secretly reunite with the monarch at Highgrove House.
