Prince Harry pushes for Royal 'roadmap' for more communication amid Charles cancer fight

Prince Harry’s top aides have expressed the Duke of Sussex's desire to avoid ‘ambushing’ the royals in a bid to maintain regular communication with his cancer-battling father.

The olive branch came as senior staff for the King’s estranged son spoke with a palace official of a wish for a “roadmap for more regular communication” with his family. The meeting between Meredith Maines, the chief communications officer for Harry and Charles’ communications secretary, Tobyn Andreae, last Wednesday in London, comes amid His Majesty’s ongoing battle with cancer.

Liam Maguire, who oversees the Sussexes' UK press, was also present for the meeting at the private members’ club Royal Over-Seas League. Sources in the US have told the Mirror that although the summit was informal, it covered several critical issues.

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They included opening the possibility of pre-briefings or courtesy notices for upcoming projects that might reference or attract attention for the Royal Family, an agreement to avoid undisclosed revelations during sensitive periods and coordination to avoid “clashing narratives” between Montecito and Buckingham Palace.

It is understood that Harry would like more direct updates on his father’s cancer treatment, after previously saying his father would not speak to him. Only in May, the Duke told the BBC he "would love a reconciliation" with the Royal Family, during an emotional interview in which he said he was "devastated" at losing a legal challenge over his security in the UK.

Prince Harry said the King "won't speak to me because of this security stuff", but that he did not want to fight any more and did "not know how much longer my father has". Although Charles has always wished for a reconciliation with his estranged youngest son, Harry’s brother, William, is less receptive.

The insider said: “The issue with Harry, as well as Meghan, is one of trust. Ever since moving to North America, they have eroded all confidence in their ability to keep things or their criticisms private. For there to be any chance of moving forward, that trust has to be rebuilt, and Team Sussex knows the onus is on them. The Duke’s team are clear that if relations are to be repaired, there needs to be a roadmap for more regular communication on both sides.

They added: “There also needs to be more openness between London and California about the timings of events and an end to the ambushing of announcements. There is often a clashing of narratives, and that must stop if the royals and the Sussexes want to portray a closer sense of unity. It is, of course, a two-way street, however.”

The Sussexes have been repeatedly accused of timing their announcements at critical times for the royal family. Meghan famously revealed she was pregnant with her first child during Princess Eugenie's wedding. In 2022, the couple's Netflix series trailer was released when William and Kate touched down in New York for a visit to the States.

Royal watchers also noted the timing of the trailer release, which came just one day after a member of Britain's royal household, later identified as Lady Susan Hussey, resigned after making remarks to a Black guest at Buckingham Palace.

Last year, Meghan unveiled her new lifestyle brand in a PR drive from the States, coinciding with an event celebrating Princess Diana's life and work.

Maines, Maguire and Andreae were seen chatting over drinks at the club’s first-floor garden terrace before moving their conversation inside. The meeting has been seen as a major bid to thaw relations following years of turbulence since Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal duties in 2020.

While Charles remains open to reconciliation, royal insiders say the same cannot be said for Prince William, who continues to harbour deep mistrust.

Since “Megxit” in January 2020, Harry and Meghan have launched a series of public attacks on the Royal Family, most notably their bombshell March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which they accused an unnamed royal of expressing concerns over their son Archie’s skin colour and claimed Meghan was left suicidal while pregnant due to lack of palace support.

Further tensions were fuelled by the couple’s six-part Netflix docuseries in December 2022, which accused the institution of “unconscious bias” and painted members of the Royal Family as complicit in negative media briefings.

Harry’s memoir Spare, released in early 2023, further deepened the rift, with explosive claims including that Prince William had physically attacked him during a row over Meghan, and allegations that Queen Camilla leaked stories to the press to improve her public image.

Charles is said to have been “deeply saddened” by his son’s accusations and consistently left the door open for his return, but William is reported to have adopted a much harsher approach.

“William feels Harry has repeatedly chosen public exposure over private resolution, and that the Royal Family can’t keep being dragged into the headlines every time there’s a new contract to promote,” added the source.

As it stands, communication between the brothers remains non-existent. While Harry has signalled a willingness to rebuild bridges, particularly given their father’s health, his brother reportedly remains the most significant obstacle to any lasting peace.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment. A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has been contacted.