Prince Harry’s hidden deal with the Palace over his UK comeback plans

At first sight, the Duke of Sussex is on his way back. He is carving out a role for himself as an international humanitarian and signalling his intention to speak out increasingly on issues facing Britain. After his team met one of the King’s senior aides 10 months ago in what was labelled a “secret summit”, their two offices are liaising to inform each other about major plans and seeking to avoid diary clashes where possible. Relations ebb and flow amid ongoing tensions, but the lines of communication remain open. Increasingly, the King and Prince Harry, who also asked to be updated on his father’s health as part of the July 2025 courtesy agreement, seem to be speaking with the same voice. On Thursday, they both showed their support for Britain’s Jewish community after attacks in London. Last weekend, alongside Prince William, they both paid 100th birthday tributes to Sir David Attenborough and his tireless environmentalism. In Ukraine in April, a week before the King’s state visit to the US, the Duke of Sussex appeared to foreshadow one of his father’s key messages to Donald Trump about the need for American support to resist Russian aggression. That came almost straight after he and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, went on a quasi-royal visit to Australia. Royal insiders say it is hardly surprising that they share a similar outlook on the big issues facing Britain and the planet. “He is his father’s son. They have had a similar upbringing and background,” one aide said. Charles, a more “political” monarch than his mother, was often outspoken as Prince of Wales, and Harry’s grandfather, Prince Philip, was also not averse to giving his opinion on controversial issues in public. There are echoes too of Diana, Princess of Wales, whose campaigning after her separation from Charles was not always authorised by the Palace or the government. In contrast to his brother, Prince William is often more measured, although he has made significant interventions on climate change, homelessness and the dangers of social media. Since quitting royal duties, Harry feels liberated, a close source says, and no longer subscribes to the Royal Family’s motto: never complain, never explain. Britain is his focus In future, he hopes to spend more time in Britain and is clear about his desire to remain a public figure here. But his plans do not involve a return to the institution he and Meghan condemned, according to sources close to him. “He’s a global citizen and sees himself as an international humanitarian… he is a prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and a former Army officer. So of course he’s going to be interested in what is happening in Britain,” one source said. The same source claimed that whatever Harry did, he would be criticised. “But the media and the public still want to hear what he says,” he explained. Whether any of this will improve the chances of healing the rift in the Royal Family that opened up after the Sussexes quit six years ago remains to be seen. Harry is set to return to the UK in July to mark one year before the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, but there has been no discussion between father and son about a reunion, according to a well-placed source. For Harry, 41, it hinges on the outcome of a Home Office review into whether he and his family can be guaranteed armed police protection. Until that is settled, it is unlikely that his children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 4, will accompany the Duke and Duchess on any future UK trips. Harry and Meghan drew cheering crowds on their trip to Australia (Photo: Jonathan Brady-Pool/Getty Images) King Charles would dearly like to see his grandchildren, friends say, but quite how enthused he is about seeing Harry is unclear amid unease about the Sussex’s efforts to make money out of their royal status while portraying themselves as global humanitarians. Still a distant relationship While there is liaison between their offices, it isn’t a close working relationship. On Thursday, an article written by Harry appeared in the New Statesman, condemning the rise in antisemitism and anti-Muslim sentiment in Britain. His intervention was published on the same day as the King’s visit to Golders Green to show support for the Jewish community after the stabbing attacks on 29 April. The timing prompted questions about how closely Harry was coordinating with the Royal Household. The Duke of Sussex was apparently unaware of the King’s visit – an engagement kept secret beforehand for security reasons – and he did not tell the Palace about his New Statesman article. “He’s not speaking on behalf of anyone but himself,” a Palace insider said. “Is this upholding the Queen’s values? I’m not sure. It seems more about keeping him in the headlines and boosting his brand.” The royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: “There’s little to disagree with in what he says. His speeches or pieces are impeccably argued but there is this feeling that it’s about self-aggrandisement. He is carving out a role that doesn’t really exist.”