Prince Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry
Prince Charles will walk Meghan Markle down the aisle on May 19. Pictured: Prince Charles, Markle, Prince Harry attend Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene on Dec. 25, 2017 in King's Lynn, England. Getty Images/Chris Jackson

KEY POINTS

  • Vanity Fair royal editor Katie Nicholl said King Charles is "hopeful" there will be a reconciliation with Harry
  • The King is "not happy" about what Harry has said but has "never stopped loving his son," Nicholl claims
  • The monarch reportedly wants to have a relationship with his grandchildren with Harry

King Charles hopes to mend fences with his youngest son, Prince Harry, according to a royal biographer.

The Duke of Sussex has been estranged from the royal family since he and wife Meghan Markle stepped down from royal duties in 2020.

King Charles' fallout with Prince Harry has left the monarch "devastated," according to Vanity Fair royal editor Katie Nicholl, who recently released a new royal book, titled "The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth's Legacy and the Future of the Crown."

"If you think back just a couple of years around the time of [the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's] wedding, the relationship between Harry and his father was, I think, probably better than it ever had been... Harry and Meghan spent time with Charles and Camilla in Scotland. They went on holiday together. It all looked very rosy and very happy," Nicholl told Fox News Digital.

"I think Charles has been devastated by how things have spiraled," she continued. "And he is hopeful that there will be a reconciliation. I think we saw that in the very... public olive branches that were extended to Harry and Meghan. After the queen's death, particularly in that first speech that Charles gave to the nation, he spoke of his love for Harry and Meghan."

In his inaugural speech as monarch in September, King Charles sent Prince Harry and Markle his "love" as they "continue to build their lives overseas."

Nicholl suggested that the King addressing the Sussexes by their first names in his speech and allowing Prince Harry to wear his military uniform to a vigil for Queen Elizabeth II last month are some signs that show King Charles wants to reconcile with his son.

"He does want to sort his relationship with his son," Nicholl claimed of the monarch. "He wants to do it on a personal level because he loves his son. He's never stopped loving his son. He may not be happy about everything that's been said, but he wants to have a relationship with Harry and he wants to have a relationship with his grandchildren."

Nicholl also suggested that allowing Prince Harry and Markle's children to use royal titles could become King Charles' "final olive branch" to his son.

"I think we'll hear about that imminently," she told the outlet.

Prince Harry and Markle share two children, 3-year-old son Archie and 1-year-old daughter Lilibet. After King Charles took over the throne, the two kids obtained the right to the titles of prince and princess as the grandchildren of the sovereign.

Late last month, however, The Times' royal editor Roya Nikkhah reported that the King had yet to decide on Archie and Lilibet's name changes, and the indecision was allegedly "heightening tensions" between Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Prince Harry and Markle are "understood to fear" that his father may strip their children of their titles, Nikkhah claimed. King Charles' reluctance to recognize Archie and Lilibet's elevated status after Queen Elizabeth II's death on Sept. 8 reportedly only fueled the Sussexes' fears, according to the royal correspondent.

At the time, a spokesperson for King Charles responded to the speculation on Archie and Lilibet's royal titles, saying in a statement to the publication that the monarch was focused on "the mourning period" for Queen Elizabeth.

"It's unlikely you'll know other titles during that period. I'm sure at some point there will be discussions," the rep added.

Princess Diana, Princes Harry, William, Charles
Princess Diana had more fate in Prince Harry becoming king than Prince William. Pictured: Princess Diana, Prince Harry, William, Charles watch the parade march past as part of the commemorations of VJ Day 19 August in London. Getty Images/Johnny Eggitt/AFP