King Charles has developed a “warmth” towards Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, but the Duke’s relationship with his brother, Prince William, is unlikely to improve, according to a royal author closely associated with the Sussexes.
Omid Scobie, once described as the couple’s “cheerleader”, said Harry’s relationship with his father had progressed and that the “iciness has thawed out”. However, he claimed he could not see the same change taking place between Harry and the Prince of Wales.
Speaking in a new Disney+ documentary examining Harry and Meghan’s return to Britain, Scobie also discussed whether Kate could act as a “peacekeeper” and help repair the brothers’ fractured relationship.
In an exclusive clip from Harry & Meghan: The Return of the Prince, Scobie said: “I think we’ve seen with Charles that things have moved forward and the iciness has thawed out. There’s a warmth there. With William, I don’t see it will ever change.”
“There’s always this talk of Kate potentially being the peacekeeper, the one who could bring the two brothers together. If I’ve learned anything over the years from covering them, it’s that Kate has very little to do with that relationship between the brothers.”
The programme, part of the Impact x Nightline series, also featured Erin Hill, a senior editor at People magazine, which has a close relationship with the Sussexes.
Hill said palace insiders had told People that William and Kate had privately chosen a traditional royal approach to the situation.
She described their stance as “keep calm, carry on, do the job”, adding that Harry and Meghan were “not a priority” for the couple as they focused on the future.
Omid Scobie is the British journalist once described as Harry and Meghan’s “cheerleader”
Kate, William, Harry and Meghan at Windsor Castle in 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II
The documentary brought together royal commentators, experts and reporters to examine the implications of Harry and Meghan’s return to the UK after six years living in the United States.
Contributors discussed the couple’s public falling-out with the Royal Family and considered whether reconciliation could take place as the 30th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death approaches.
The programme also included royal experts Robert Jobson, Victoria Murphy, Alastair Bruce, Elizabeth Holmes, Kinsey Schofield and Afua Hagan.
Farzana Baduel, co-host of BBC Radio 4’s When It Hits the Fan, also appeared, alongside Maggie Rulli, the ABC News journalist who interviewed Earl Spencer the previous week.
The Sussexes arrived in the UK on August 26, marking a dramatic change of direction after leaving the working monarchy and relocating to California in 2020.
They stepped down as working royals for personal and financial reasons, although speculation continues over the decision to move back unexpectedly. The theories include a desire for their children to build a closer relationship with their grandfather, the King; Meghan’s possible return to acting; and an effort by the couple to raise their public profile.
Meghan’s friend Kelly McKee Zajfen said this week that the Duchess of Sussex had received a “loving” welcome after returning to the UK, describing it as “beautiful to witness”.
Before their return, Charles was reportedly pleased at the prospect of spending more time with the Sussex family. However, he remained firm that Harry and Meghan would not become working royals and that there would be no “half-in, half-out” arrangement.
Erin Hill of People magazine says Harry and Meghan are “not a priority” for William and Kate
Prince Harry attends the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York on Wednesday
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The move has not been plain sailing, with Harry and Meghan pulling their children Prince Archie and Lili out of their new school after just two days when heavy traffic in the area meant their private security team struggled to stay in a convoy during the school run. The youngsters have now transferred to a new school.
Tensions also grew between Team Sussex and the Royal Household when a letter, authorised by the King, was circulated to senior stakeholders in the Government reiterating the couple were ‘private citizens’ and setting out guidance on how they should be treated.
Harry and Meghan were said to have been caught off guard by the instructions, with the couple, who are waiting to hear whether they will be given taxpayer-funded security, reported to prefer the term ‘public figures’ instead.
Meanwhile the serialisation of a book about Diana written by Earl Spencer has made serious allegations against the King.
The earl accused the monarch of gaslighting him after Buckingham Palace pushed back against allegations that Charles said ‘we’ll forget her soon enough’ after Diana died.
This prompted a war of words between the earl and Buckingham Palace, which said in a responding statement that ‘the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason’.
Neither Harry nor his brother Prince William have commented on the book – serialised by Our News Outlet – although they were both told in advance that it was being released.
Separately, it was reported on Monday that Harry is in talks to make a documentary about his mother to mark the 30th anniversary of her death.
Harry and Meghan at the David Foster Foundation 40th anniversary celebration in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, on August 7 – the last public engagement they attended together
‘Harry & Meghan: The Return of the Prince’ is a new documentary from ‘Impact x Nightline’
The duke is understood to have asked a number of Diana’s friends and relatives if they would take part in a commemorative film ahead of the milestone in August next year – but the project has not been confirmed at this stage.
Harry was in New York City earlier this week carrying out a series of engagements – including a speech about AI at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting on Wednesday.
He also appeared at a National Geographic and De Beers Okavango Eternal event at the Jardin de Sur Madison; a Diana Award and Service Now discussion on the future of work, young people and AI at Goals House NYC.
Further events include an event for Harry’s sustainable travel initiative Travalyst; and a keynote speech at the Skift Global Travel Forum.
The trip to the US came after he carried out three engagements in the UK – his first since returning to Britain.
The duke attended the Invictus Spirit Awards in London last Thursday to honour members of the Invictus community at his first event since returning to the UK.
He went to Ninestiles Academy in Birmingham the following day to launch Inspire, a new education programme linked to the Invictus Games in the city next June.
Harry then returned to London on Monday for the WellChild Awards to celebrate the achievements and resilience of seriously ill youngsters and their families.
But Meghan has not joined him at any events so far – and the last public engagement they attended together was a David Foster Foundation gala in Canada on August 7.
‘Harry & Meghan: The Return of the Prince’ is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu
