Prince Harry May Turn to ‘Ultimate Spare’ Princess Anne to Heal Rift With Royal Family: Report
Rumors of a reconciliation between Prince Harry and King Charles are rife, following recent reports of a 'secret summit' between their respective aides. After Harry’s chief of staff, Meredith Maines, and Charles’ communications secretary, Tobyn Andreae, were spotted together on July 9, sources suggest the Duke could have an unlikely ally to help him reunite with his family. A new report points to Harry's aunt, Princess Anne, as a potential bridge, thanks to their shared experiences as royal 'spares'.
A report by The Sunday Times dubbed the Princess Royal the 'ultimate uncomplaining spare' who could empathize with her nephew. A family friend explained her importance and said, "She often talked about how, as children, she was treated so differently from Charles. She was second to him and kicked further down the line of succession as a woman, but she forged her own path." The insider added, "In her twenties, she was bolshy and upset about a lot of things, but she came through that. He should talk to her about her experiences...She could tell him a lot about what she went through."
The report also uncovered the once loving bond between Harry and Anne and revealed that she was someone he looked upto following Queen Elizabeth's passing in 2022. It further cited that when the Duke arrived solo at Balmoral to see the Queen, it was 'Auntie Anne' who greeted him and showed him to his grandmother's bedroom where she was laid to rest. At Charles' 2023 coronation, Anne, yet again, warmly greeted Harry and checked if he could see past her hat. It is reported that she has a 'soft spot' for her nephew following the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
The report also echoes claims made by another source who revealed that the Princess Royal was urging the King to mend the rift with Harry. The insider said, "Anne and Charles have been having serious discussions about his final wishes. It’s Anne that’s urging the King to pursue one in particular that right now appears to be impossible – finding a way to end this out-of-control feud between his sons." They added, "Anne’s pragmatic, no-drama approach, which is not unlike their late father’s, Prince Philip, is a potential bridge to reconcile Harry and William."
With regards to the highly publicized peace talks, Maines, Andreae, and Liam Maguire, who oversees the UK press for Harry, were spotted having drinks at the private club, the Royal Over-Seas League. A source told the Daily Mail, "There's a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in years...There were things both sides wanted to talk about." They noted that the meeting marked the "first step towards reconciliation between Harry and his father." Despite efforts from both Charles and Harry, leaked photos of the secret meeting have reportedly sparked further discord. The Sussexes’ team has denied involvement in the leak, while Buckingham Palace declined to comment.