Royal official Kinsey Schofield said Charles III’s palace aides follow strict risk management protocols whenever Prince Harry visits his father.
“The King’s private secretaries are always on hand, ready to intervene if a conversation becomes uncomfortable or a difficult request is made, and have been known to end meetings by reminding the King that his next assignment requires additional travel time and he needs to leave,” Schofield told Page Six.
“During a meeting, the maid or butler who serves the tea sometimes intentionally lingers without leaving the room immediately,” she explained. “It was the king and his courtiers who carefully strategized how to engage with Prince Harry and made sure there were sensitive witnesses present.”
The protocol is said to have evolved over the years, dating back to the late Queen Elizabeth II before her death in September 2022.
“Palace aides and trusted friends were often present in meetings and on the phone as witnesses and to provide support when needed,” she claimed of the late king’s protocol.
Mr Schofield explained that royal staff were dealing with Prince Harry’s visit from a “risk management” perspective.
“Buckingham Palace now approaches all interactions with Prince Harry through the lens of protecting the property rather than preserving the relationship,” she claimed. “That may sound sad to some, but from the Palace’s perspective, the pattern of recent years is that many of Prince Harry’s decisions are ultimately in his own interests rather than the family’s.
“Whether that’s fair or not, this speaks to how they currently manage their relationship.”
Ms Schofield also responded to reports that Queen Camilla had asked to room with her husband during his next meeting with Prince Harry.
“My understanding is that Queen Camilla doesn’t seem very keen on getting involved with Harry and Meghan. She supports the king whenever he asks, but she doesn’t see any value in rehashing old grievances,” Schofield said.
There is reportedly a belief “within the royal family” that interactions between Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are often followed by “public revelations and conflicting stories,” making trust “incredibly difficult to rebuild.”
“Past experience has taught the Palace to approach any proposed meeting with caution,” Schofield said.
The king also reportedly knows how to avoid certain conversations with his son.
“Charles has indicated that he intends to distance himself if the conversation focuses on money or contentious family issues,” Schofield said. “The idea that he needed Queen Camilla to protect him from his youngest son just doesn’t fit with the decisions he’s made over the past few years.”
Buckingham Palace did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Charles, 77, and Harry, 41, are set to reunite in the UK next month amid efforts to resolve their long-standing estrangement. Page Six confirmed that Prince Harry will be bringing his two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to meet their grandfather.
Markle is expected to cross the pond to join Prince Harry, but it is unclear whether she will attend the family meeting with the king.
Reports have emerged that the Sussexes may cancel their trip due to safety concerns. (Prince Harry and Ms Markle specifically lost their security privileges in the UK after stepping down from royal duties in 2020).
But a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex told Page Six on Monday that the biggest “issue” about their trip was “whether appropriate security will be provided during their visit.”
“Prince Harry’s program in the UK includes public and private activities across the country,” the statement said. “Safe accommodation is just one element of an effective protective security plan, as risk is associated with people, not places.”
A representative said Prince Harry was exploring “all options” to safely travel to the UK with his wife and children.
This will be the first time the “Suits” alum has returned to the UK since attending the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, have not visited the UK since June 2022 for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
