Queen Camilla to Back King Charles as Prince Harry Seeks Family Reconciliation

Queen Camilla is expected to put aside past differences with Prince Harry and stand firmly behind King Charles as the monarch seeks to rebuild ties with his younger son, royal experts have said.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to the UK on 26 August, with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, reportedly set to begin school in Britain in September. The move comes amid renewed efforts by Harry to establish closer links with his father.

King Charles, who continues treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, is understood to want a relationship with his grandchildren. Camilla is expected to support that effort despite the difficult history between Harry and the wider royal family.

Charles met Harry, Meghan and their children at Highgrove House on 10 July, before the Sussexes' latest return to Britain. Reports suggest even the Prince and Princess of Wales were not informed of the meeting, at which Camilla was present.

Royal commentator Meredith Constant noted that Camilla has weathered far bigger storms than the Sussexes' 2020 exit or Harry's memoir, 'Spare'. "Camilla knows how to lie low when she needs to," Constant said. "She's going to go through the motions and put on a good face for her husband as he works on his relationship with his younger son."

Constant added that while Prince William and King Charles may not be in complete agreement over how to handle Harry's return, they understand they are a unit with their respective wives. "William wouldn't expect Camilla to take a stand against her husband anymore than Charles would expect that of Kate," she said.

Royal historian Catherine Mayer told People magazine that Camilla "is a non-negotiable part of Charles' life," adding that "there's no reconciliation with (the king) without her."

Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior working royals in 2020, citing intense media scrutiny and a lack of support from the palace. They subsequently moved to California, where they discussed their experiences of royal life in interviews and documentaries. Harry's 2023 memoir, 'Spare', further highlighted his strained relationships with family members, particularly with Prince William, with whom he has reportedly not spoken since 2022.

Any reconciliation is therefore likely to be gradual rather than immediate. For now, the Highgrove meeting and the Sussexes' return to Britain represent reported steps towards renewed family contact.