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It seems the ice may be thawing between the prince and his dad.
According to insiders, Prince Harry’s children, Archie (4) and Lilibet (2), sent their grandfather, King Charles, a sweet video on his 75th birthday.
In the video the children belt out a hearty rendition of Happy Birthday.
Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, also reportedly phoned Charles to wish him.
READ MORE | King Charles gets teary-eyed as statues of his parents are unveiled
While the Sussexes were reportedly not invited to the king’s birthday dinner at Clarence House, it seems the lines of communication are open and news of the phone call certainly indicates a healing of the rift that has developed between father and son.
According to The Telegraph, sources say the phone call went better than expected and that Harry would have been elated to have spoken to his “Pa”, who celebrated his birthday with an intimate celebration attended by close family and friends.
“Charles has missed speaking to his grandkids as well as Meghan and Harry,” a source told Us Weekly.
“Holding onto this grudge hasn’t been something that’s been good for either side and they are all looking forward to the future and a better relationship as a family.”
For his part, the king was thrilled that Harry flew to London from the US for his coronation in May, even though the duke only stayed for a few hours and did not bring his family.
The two did not see each other in early September to mark the first anniversary of the queen’s death. Instead Harry travelled to Germany to attend his sporting event for injured soldiers, the Invictus Games.
According to royal author Omid Scobie, Harry and Charles are still on speaking terms despite all the damage Harry and Meghan have caused with their public attacks on the monarchy and the duke’s personal digs against his family in his memoir, Spare.
However, he says Harry’s relationship with his brother, Prince William, is all but over.
“A striking difference between Charles and William when it comes to their relationships with Harry is there is still a warmth with Harry and Charles,” says Scobie, whose new book Endgame about the breakdown of the royal family and the weakening of the modern monarchy, comes out later this month.
“He [Harry] would rather have that in his life than to cut it off completely. Hence, when they talk, it is often Harry reaching out. And I was surprised to learn that even Meghan has some sort of correspondence with Charles, sending over photos of the children.”
Harry’s hopes of receiving an apology from his father for the way he and his wife were treated as working royals seem unlikely, though, Scobie predicts. The biographer believes William will caution the king against it.
READ MORE | How Prince Harry and Kate’s once warm relationship has cooled
William apparently cannot forgive his brother for the digs he made at his wife, Kate, Princess of Wales, in his memoir as well as in his Netflix doccie, Harry & Meghan.
Fellow royal author Phil Dampier agrees there is little hope of a reconciliation between the brothers.
“I don’t think William will ever forgive Harry, it’s very sad to say.
“I don’t think the two brothers will ever make it up or trust each other again.”
Sources: usmagazine.com, people.com, express.co.uk
