‘Removed’: Intriguing twist in Prince Harry’s royal saga

A key non-royal figure reportedly at the centre of Harry’s Palace rift could soon be out of the picture, in an intriguing development.

It’s been almost five years since Prince Harry quit royal duties and many, many (many) details about how one of the most dramatic developments in modern royal history unfolded have since surfaced.

By now, everyone knows the key players in the royal rift: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the King and Queen, and Prince William and Kate, the Princess of Wales.

But there are other figures who reportedly played a significant role – one of which is Charles’ influential and longtime private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton.

He may be considered “gatekeeper” for the King and Queen, but Harry and Sir Clive are reportedly “avowed enemies”, with the duke even allegedly referring to him in his unflattering depiction of a Palace staffer known as “The Wasp” in his 2023 memoir, Spare.

According to Harry, the “arrogant” aide was “great at pretending to be polite, even servile”, but would “put you on his list” and “give you such a stab with his outsized stinger that you’d cry out in confusion”.

The then-Prince of Wales with Sir Clive back in 2011. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The senior Palace aide at Ascot in 2022. Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Tina Brown – former magazine editor, best-selling royal author, and friend of the late Princess Diana – has now claimed in her substack, Fresh Hell, that an “intimate royal source” recently revealed that Sir Clive, 57, is currently “considering retirement”.

Given that he was considered a key roadblock in attempts to arrange conciliatory meetings between Harry and his father this year, Brown pointed out that if his replacement has no history with Harry, they may help “create a new, friendlier path for negotiations”.

The King and Harry have had a rocky relationship. Picture: Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

It follows recent reports in The Daily Beast that some of the King’s inner circle believe “heads should roll” over Prince Andrew’s victory in his long-running housing standoff with his brother.

The disgraced Duke of York has managed to retain his accommodation in Royal Lodge, despite reports the King was attempting to force him to leave – first by withdrawing funding for his personal security, and then removing his hefty annual living allowance.

While Sir Clive’s departure from the royal fold would eliminate at least one roadblock, the situation remains extremely complex.

The Sussexes did not get along with “The Wasp”. Picture: Toby Melville – WPA Pool/Getty Images

The King and Harry’s relationship has been rocky in recent years, but the pair have remained on speaking terms – unlike the Duke of Sussex and his brother, Prince William.

And according to royal author and historian, Robert Hardman, the King is struggling to fully make amends with Harry as it needs to be “done in tandem with both brothers, not just one”.

Hardman has just released an updated version of his biography, Charles III, New King, New Court, which features a number of new details about recent royal events.

“[Charles] can’t have unilateral discussions if William isn’t in agreement,” Hardman told the Daily Beast, explaining that he can’t leave William to inherit an agreement with Harry that he’s uncomfortable with.

“Exactly. Whatever reconciliation or bridge-building happens, it needs to be a three-way process. People keep asking about the king’s feelings, but William also has to be on board, which adds complexity,” he said.

“It’s tricky, and a situation nobody wants. But whatever the way forward is, it has to work for everybody.”

Originally published as ‘Removed’: Intriguing twist in Prince Harry’s royal saga