Speculation about private “peace talks” between King Charles and Prince Harry has sparked hope among royal followers that their long-running estrangement may soon come to an end.
Harry has remained distant from the royal family since stepping back from senior duties in 2020. While Charles is said to be open to reconciliation, Prince William reportedly opposes any move to bring his younger brother back into the fold.
Royal photographer Ian Pelham Turner suggested that Queen Camilla has grown weary of William’s apparent resistance. According to him, she has encouraged Charles to put an end to his son’s interference.
Camilla’s Influence on Charles
Turner reflected on recent claims that William has struggled to forgive Harry following his explosive interviews and memoir. Speaking to The Mirror, he explained, “Charles has great humanity, and I think he just needed the corners smoothed out, and I think that’s what Camilla has done more than anything.” He went on to suggest that Camilla recognizes William’s attempts to stir conflict, telling Charles to “stop it.”
The photographer emphasized Camilla’s positive impact on the monarch, noting, “I think in a lot of ways, he is a very good King, I really do, and I think, where he’s come in his life now with Camilla by his side, Camilla is a much stronger person, I think, for him.” Turner even hinted that the Queen Consort may have helped facilitate an initial meeting between Harry and Charles’s advisers as a step toward repairing their relationship.
The Tense History Between Camilla and William
Turner also remarked on speculation that William has sought to establish himself as the dominant figure within the monarchy, even overshadowing his father. This tension between William and Camilla is hardly new. Their relationship was strained from the start, dating back to her affair with Charles during his marriage to Princess Diana.
According to royal biographer Christopher Anderson, Camilla was “terrified” before meeting William for the first time. Speaking to Fox News, Anderson revealed, “Camilla was so terrified at the prospect of meeting William that when she finally met him at Clarence House, she was trembling like a leaf and needed a vodka and tonic afterward.” He added that her fear was understandable, as she and the rest of the world knew she had played a part in ending Charles and Diana’s marriage.
Signs of a Warmer Relationship
Despite years of tension, Camilla and William’s relationship appears to have softened in recent months. Since Charles’s cancer diagnosis in February 2024, the two have been seen showing more warmth publicly.
In one striking moment, William greeted his stepmother with a rare kiss on the cheek at the Royal Dias ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit—an affectionate gesture that suggested old wounds may finally be healing.