One was quoted saying: “Whoever is behind them seems to have mistaken a brief tea and a slice of cake for the Treaty of Versailles.”
Then, on the weekend, details of the Duke’s meeting with his father were published in The Sun.
The newspaper claimed that Prince Harry was “surprised by the formalities” of their reunion, which was described as “awkward” and akin to an audience with dignitaries and official visitors. The duke was said to have described the meeting as “very official, like an official visit”.
Details were also published of the gifts exchanged, including a framed photograph of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The Sussexes responded by claiming that people were trying to “sabotage” the reconciliation by casting their meeting in a negative light.
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A source, who wanted the details to remain private, said: “The quotes attributed to [the duke] are pure invention, fed, one can only assume, by sources intent on sabotaging any reconciliation between father and son.”
Then came a prominent story published in the Mail on Sunday that blamed the “men in grey suits” for trying to scupper his reunion with the King.
Such is the level of suspicion between the two sides that each blames the other for the breakdown in trust between the King and the duke.
Friends of Prince Harry believe palace aides leaked details about the meeting to try to sabotage his chances of returning to the UK more often, by making it appear that he had shared the information with journalists. Some believe he is seen as a threat, and that palace aides would rather he stayed in the United States.
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One told The Telegraph that rather than trying to orchestrate some kind of plot to be welcomed back into the institution, he simply wanted to see his father more often and perhaps even bring his children back to Britain.
At the palace, there is genuine bemusement, with aides insisting that all involved would love to see the duke on good terms with his father, not least the King himself.
They believe the duke’s team leaked the details of their meeting and as such, all involved are caught in a stalemate, with renewed fury and frustration on both sides.
Such developments now threaten to derail the fragile peace process. One well-placed palace source insisted that it was not quite back to square one for the duke.
“It’s certainly not helpful though,” the source said.
The Telegraph, London
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