Princess Kate Secretly ‘in Touch’ With Prince Harry Amid Peace Talks: ‘She Sees the Bigger Picture’

During his September visit to Ukraine with the Invictus Games Foundation, Prince Harry met with wounded soldiers and shared words of encouragement that underscored the importance of family. Just two days earlier, the Duke of Sussex had reunited face-to-face with his father, King Charles III — their first meeting since Harry learned of the monarch’s cancer diagnosis more than 18 months earlier — lending his remarks an added significance. “You will feel lost at times, like you lack purpose, but however dark those days are, there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Harry told the vets. “You just need to look for it, because there will always be someone — a mother, father, sibling, friend or comrade — there to pick you up.”

His wife, Meghan, 44, and their children, Archie, 6, and Lili, 4, have certainly been there for Harry amid the Sussexes’ estrangement from senior members of Harry’s family, including Charles, 76, and brother Prince William, 43, in the wake of their shocking move to California nearly six years ago. But Star has learned they aren’t the only ones who have his interests at heart. “Harry has been back in touch with Kate for a while now, and it’s very much a two-way street,” says a source — making the stunning revelation that the 40-year-old duke and his once-close sister-in-law, the Princess of Wales, 43, have secretly been texting, emailing and “chatting on the phone every so often.”

How It Started

It began when Kate faced a life-altering health crisis last year, says the source. Harry and Meghan caused a lot of hurt when, in a series of interviews, a Netflix docuseries and his 2023 memoir, Spare, they accused his loved ones of fueling palace courtiers’ attacks on them in the U.K. press, leading them to leave Britain in 2020. The resulting feelings of betrayal, anger and hurt, says the source, seemed poised to “end their relationship forever.” But when Kate, like Charles, was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in early 2024, Harry quietly reached out “with supportive words of encouragement,” says the source. “That meant the world to Kate,” who in January announced she was in remission. “She needed all the love and kindness she could get back then, and Harry offered plenty.”

They used to be so close. Along with sharing unflattering private anecdotes about his family in Spare, which further drove a wedge between the Sussexes and the Windsors, Harry also detailed his affection for Kate. “I liked his new girlfriend,” he wrote of meeting William’s college classmate more than 20 years earlier. “She was carefree, sweet, kind.” When William wed Kate in 2011, Harry felt he’d gained “the sister I’d never had and always wanted,” he wrote, “and I was pleased that she’d forever be standing by Willy’s side. She was a good match for my older brother. They made each other visibly happy, and therefore I was happy too.”

The fondness was mutual. Kate saw Harry “as this mischievous but extremely lovable younger brother,” says the source. In turn, adds the source, “He’d always ask her advice. He looked at Kate as the voice of reason.” It was a natural move to reconnect with her when he was looking for help reconciling with his father. “Life is precious,” he told the BBC in May after he lost a court battle to restore state-funded security for his young family in the U.K. “I don’t know how much longer my father has. He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile.” Two months later, there were signs of a thaw.

A Fragile Peace

In July, Harry’s reps met with Charles’ senior courtiers in what was described as “a secret peace summit” — a first step toward rebuilding the king’s strained and, for years, practically nonexistent relationship with his second son. Then in September, the duke and his father spent nearly an hour together over tea at Charles’ London home. Days later, it was clear there had been a shift when Harry told BBC in Ukraine that this next year, “the focus really has to be on my dad.”

Much of the credit can go to Kate, says the source. “She was instrumental in helping Harry and Charles forge a path forward. She’d been chipping away at both of them, saying it’s imperative Harry has a relationship with his father,” especially as Charles continues cancer treatment. “The consensus within the royal fold is that these talks would never have happened if it weren’t for Kate,” adds the source. “She vouched for Harry with Charles, saying he’s learned from his mistakes. At the same time, she was able to assure Harry it was worthwhile to approach his father — she knew Charles missed Harry very, very much — even if William isn’t on board.”

The William Factor

By all accounts, the Prince of Wales remains unmoved on the subject of Harry, whom he hasn’t spoken to in years. “He’s opposed to his brother rejoining the family in any way, shape or form,” explains the source. “That does put Kate in a difficult spot. Ultimately, she’s been torn between her brother-in-law and her husband.” At the end of the day, “Kate will always support William,” confirms the source, “but she will also put the interests of the monarchy first. She sees the bigger picture.” Namely, she knows how important image is to the institution and is wise enough to know that a king estranged from his son isn’t the legacy the crown deserves.

It’s helped that Harry has “softened his stance” during peace talks, says the source. He’s made clear his public criticisms have been about what he calls “accountability” and “truth,” and that his book was not “revenge” but “a series of corrections to stories already out there,” he told The Guardian in September. But according to the source, everything could change if Harry promises “there won’t be any more attacks on the royals, that he’ll work hard to regain their trust and respect their wishes in terms of diplomacy and discretion.”

The Meghan Factor

That, adds the source, “is seen as a huge help in terms of negotiations, especially if he agrees to make most if not all of his upcoming trips to the U.K. without Meghan, and Harry seems to be OK with separating her from these discussions.” Kate’s optimistic, adds the source, “but also a little cynical, especially about the notion he’ll exclude Meghan.” She’s all too aware of how much Harry listens to his wife and “does what he’s told,” says the source.

Meghan, who hasn’t returned to the U.K. since Queen Elizabeth II’s 2022 funeral, is said to be skeptical of a lasting reconciliation. While the former Suits star supports Harry reconnecting with his father, there are fears his recent moves are fueling tensions in his already delicate marriage, the source confirms. He and Meghan have been on separate paths of late, with Harry leaning into his own philanthropic initiatives, frequently traveling outside the States to highlight his charitable work, while Meghan forges ahead reinventing herself as a businesswoman, promoting her As Ever food product line and With Love, Meghan Netflix entertaining series amid speculation a fashion or beauty brand will be next.

“Meghan is furious that he’s crawling back to his family and making promises to sweeten the possibility of a return to the fold,” says the source. “To her, it’s cut and dried: If they’re disrespected, the offenders deserve to be cut off indefinitely. That’s what she’s done with her own relatives,” including her father and half-siblings. “She just doesn’t want Harry to be manipulated or taken for a fool.”