The one thing Harry and Meghan have to do 'for peace to prevail'

Prince Harry and Meghan will need to "own and apologise for the pain they've caused" if a reconciliation is to be achieved between the couple and the royal family.

Royal commentator Victoria Arbiter tells 9honey that while King Charles is "an empathetic, forgiving man" with the wisdom of his years to "understand the importance of making amends", this may not extend to the Prince of Wales, whose rift with his brother appears to be irreparable.

Arbiter's comments come after Mail on Sunday broke the story aides from both sides had met in London to potentially facilitate a royal family reunion.

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At the secret meeting last week, Charles, 76, was reportedly represented by his Communications Secretary, Tobyn Andreae, while the Duke of Sussex, 40, sent his Chief Communications Officer Meredith Maines.

The group, which also included Harry and Meghan's head of PR Liam Maguire, were photographed by the publication at a London private members' club called Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL), located near Clarence House, King Charles' London residence.

It isn't known which party initiated the talks nor is it known if the meeting was successful.

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"I think most reasonably-minded people would be glad to see father and son reconciled, especially given the King's ongoing treatment for cancer, but considering all that's transpired, few would be willing to see Harry make a return to the royal fold," Arbiter tells 9honey.

Regardless of initial hopes, Arbiter points out there is "a long road ahead, and with trust irrevocably shattered it won't be easy".

"If Harry truly wants to reunite with his father, I believe he'd be welcomed with open arms, but for things to progress, he'd need to acknowledge the role he's played in the breakdown of relations and so far he's been unwilling to do so," she continues.

"Harry's spent the last five years railing against the system and criticising his family for allegedly planting stories and leaking against him and yet he continues to use the media to attack them publicly.

"The Sussex camp – their aides, friends and the couple themselves – have poked, prodded, threatened, vilified and slandered members of the Royal Family all while clinging on to the perks of Harry's lineage.

This entire time, Arbiter points out, the royals have "maintained a dignified silence".

"For peace to prevail, the Sussexes will need to own and apologise for the pain they've caused," she concludes.

"Families are complicated. Peace is always possible, but only if all parties come to the table with an open, forgiving heart and a mutual commitment to rebuilding trust.

"Harry has a poor track record in that regard.

"Rebuilding any kind of relationship will be especially challenging given the distance between their homes, but as and when they decide to proceed, talks must remain private.

"Should sources subsequently be quoted in the press, it will be a clear indication that the intention is not entirely pure."

Arbiter speculates a reunion between father and son does not automatically lead to one between Prince Harry and his brother, and "should be viewed separately".

"Each has been wounded in different ways and each holds a very different relationship. The King will have his own personal reasons for wanting reconciliation, but one does not equal the other.

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"William's first priority will be to his wife, his children and his family's wellbeing."

It has been a challenging two years for the British royal family, with both King Charles and the Princess of Wales battling cancer.

While Charles' treatment is ongoing, Kate announced she was in remission from the disease in January 2025, although she also recently described her recovery as a "rollercoaster".

During that same period of time, Harry lost his legal bid for full-time security for him and his family during trips to the UK, sitting down for an interview with BBC stating that there is "a lot of control and ability in my father's hands".

"Ultimately, this whole thing could be resolved through him, not necessarily by intervening, but by stepping aside, allowing the experts to do what is necessary."

The Duchess of Sussex has spent majority of 2025 launching various business ventures including a new Netflix series called With Love, Meghan, a corresponding range of lifestyle products under the brand As ever, and launching a new podcast called Confessions of a Female Founder.

She hasn't returned to the UK since Queen Elizabeth's funeral in 2022, however is likely to want to accompany Harry to the Invictus Games being held in Birmingham in the UK in 2027, with promotional events to kick off in 2026.

"Drama with Harry is a distraction from his role and his work and it's not something he's currently prepared to entertain," Arbiter says.

"There's been endless speculation about the meeting between aides, but it's interesting to note, that it was held in a public setting, not behind palace walls and there was only one representative for the Royal Family.

"Mr Andreae holds an important position, but he is neither the King's Private Secretary nor his Assistant Private Secretary. It's impossible to know why they met, but Meredith Maines flying to the UK suggests it came at the behest of the Sussexes.

"Mr Andreae was most likely dispatched to hear what they want."

The royal commentator says this "may be a precursor to the Birmingham Invitctus Games".

"The King's presence would be quite a coup for Harry, but there's two years to go before the Games kick off and as we know, anything can happen in two years," Arbiter adds.

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"Peace talks, olive branches, reconciliation all makes for good headlines, but Harry has repeatedly betrayed his family for his own commercial gain.

"Talking to the BBC, he previously said, 'Life is short.' It is indeed, but any kind of forgiveness will have to be granted on his family's terms not those dictated by the Sussexes or their aides."

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