Was Prince William Aware of Secret Meeting Between Prince Harry and King Charles’ Aides?

In what was considered to be a “good first step” of reopening communication, team members for Prince Harry and King Charles recently met in London

Prince William, Prince Harry and King Charles.

The recent private meeting between Prince Harry’s aides and a member of King Charles’ team appeared to be an olive branch after years of estrangement between the father and son. However, Prince William didn’t have a representative at the gathering, prompting questions about what he knew.

On July 9, Meredith Maines, the Duke of Sussex’s chief of staff and communications director, and Liam Maguire, the Sussexes’ U.K. spokesperson, met with Tobyn Andreae, King Charles’ communications secretary. The informal sit-down, which took place at the private members’ club Royal Over-Seas League in London, was first reported by The Mail on Sunday.

“It was a good first step,” an insider told PEOPLE exclusively. “It is always better to be talking.

According to new reports, Prince William and Kate Middleton were unaware of the meeting — underscoring the ongoing strain between the brothers.

“It’s no coincidence that William and Catherine did not have a representative at the Royal Over-Seas League,” a friend reportedly told the Daily Mail. “They were not asked to send anyone and will be treating the talks with extreme caution.”

The friend added, “The fact that it ended up in the newspapers tells you all you need to know.”

Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Sept. 10, 2022.Chris Jackson/Getty

However, sources told The Telegraph that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were “frustrated” that the meeting was leaked to the press, adding that they were “not responsible” and recognized it was “not an ideal way” to begin communication.

Although Prince William didn’t have a representative at the meeting, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams doubts that the Prince of Wales was completely unaware of the talks.

“The King would never have made these moves without William’s support and understanding. William and Catherine are the future of the monarchy,” he told the Daily Mail.

A representative for the Prince and Princess of Wales declined PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Sept. 10, 2022.Kirsty O’Connor – WPA Pool/Getty

The rift between Prince Harry and his family first became public in 2020 when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from their royal roles. Tensions deepened as Harry and Meghan spoke out against the royal family in revealing interviews, their Netflix docuseries and Harry’s memoir, Spare.

Last year, sources told PEOPLE that Prince Harry’s attempts to get in contact with King Charles and Prince William went ignored. But a royal insider said that while the rift between the brothers — who reportedly haven’t spoken in two years — is “very bad,” it’s not “irreparable.”

In a June piece published by The Sunday Times tied to Prince William’s 43rd birthday, reporter Roya Nikkhah claimed William’s ire at Harry has settled into indifference.

A friend of William’s told the outlet, “What has struck me the most recently is that he just doesn’t mention it at all. It used to be that the family stuff was taking up a lot of space in his head; it was a very close relationship, and he was very upset. But he’s not letting it get to him at all anymore. It is a change. It’s sad, but it’s a much healthier space for him to be at.”

Prince Harry and King Charles on Sept. 14, 2022.

The meeting between Harry and the King’s aides came just weeks after the Duke of Sussex told the BBC that he would “love reconciliation with my family.”

“There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore,” he said, adding, “I don’t know how much longer my father has,” referencing King Charles’ cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatment.

Some close to the palace have downplayed the long-term effects of the meeting, framing it as a professional exchange between communications staff who simply need to understand one another. Still, with Prince Harry and King Charles’ direct communication reduced to near silence — according to the Duke of Sussex — the meeting may have marked a tentative reopening of lines between father and son.

“It’s a positive step,” the insider says. “There’s optimism that it can be taken forward.”