One of the King’s newest and most trusted aides has vowed to repair the rift between Princes William and Harry to spare the monarch from further ‘great pain’.
Former diplomat Theo Rycroft, who became deputy private secretary to the King in February, is understood to have made it his ‘number one mission’ and career ambition to reunite the pair, who have not spoken since Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in 2022.
Sources say Mr Rycroft, married to Flora Astor, half-sister of Samantha Cameron, believes the situation has become ‘f****** ridiculous’ and is keen to resolve it ‘urgently’ for the King’s sake.
One source said: ‘He thinks it’s time to knock their heads together. The mood is, “He’s not wrong”.
‘Theo’s a very reasonable guy and incredibly nice, and he completely gets that this is a source of great pain to the King and wants to help him resolve it.
‘He sees his job as helping the King resolve it.’
His determination comes amid speculation the King may meet Harry when he flies to Britain from his California home in July to help prepare for the Invictus Games in Birmingham next year.
But whether Mr Rycroft can persuade William to meet his brother too may be a tall order.
Prince William has allegedly barred any mention of Prince Harry in his presence following damaging revelations in his memoir Spare and the Sussexes’ departure from Royal life
Former diplomat Theo Rycroft, who became deputy private secretary to the King in February, is understood to have made it his ‘number one mission’ and career ambition to reunite the pair
What do you think it will take for William and Harry to truly forgive and trust each other again?
William has allegedly barred any mention of Harry in his presence following damaging revelations in his memoir Spare and the Sussexes’ departure from Royal life, in which they gave an Oprah Winfrey interview accusing an unnamed royal of racism.
Friends of Mr Rycroft say he has quickly gained influence within the King’s inner circle, not simply because of his establishment connections but because of his reputation as a calm and politically astute operator capable of navigating difficult personalities and delicate situations – skills he could put to great use in trying to reunite the warring brothers.
His credentials are strong. An Oxford-educated lawyer and career diplomat, Mr Rycroft joined the Foreign Office in 2005 and has held a string of senior international roles.
They include legal adviser to the Prime Minister, head of international law at the Attorney General’s Office and later deputy head of mission at the British Embassy in Paris.
Crucially, he is close to William. During his Paris posting he worked closely with William on several high-profile international engagements, including the Prince of Wales’s hugely scrutinised trip for the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, an event that also saw William meet Donald Trump.
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Palace insiders say Mr Rycroft impressed Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace with his handling of the visit – and the King and Queen’s US trip last month – and marvelled at his ability to help bridge diplomatic sensitivities between Mr Trump and the climate-campaigning King.
One insider said: ‘Theo believes that Harry and William need to be forced to shake hands and allow Charles to repair his relationship with Harry.’
The source adds: ‘I would be very surprised if Harry doesn’t see Charles when he is in the UK.
‘Theo would not be one of the many aides at the palace wishing to block a meeting.
‘But while he may be outnumbered, after the US visit he is the most respected man in the building right now.’
It is unclear whether Harry will bring Meghan and their children Archie, seven, and four-year-old Lilibet to Britain with him in July.
Doing so would rely on the Home Office granting his family police protection, which remains under review.
