Prince Harry’s clandestine visit to the Duchess of Kent during his whirlwind UK tour was a significant peace offering to the Royal family, according to an expert.

During his four-day trip back home in early September, the Duke of Sussex had a private 55-minute tea with his father, King Charles, at Clarence House. The meet up was their first encounter since February 2024, but it’s now emerged that Harry also connected with another Royal family member during his visit.

His spokesperson confirmed that he met Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, at Kensington Palace after meeting with his father King Charles. The prince paid his respects following the passing of Edward’s wife, Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, who died on September 4 at the age of 92.

Harry left the UK before the Duchess’ funeral at Westminster Cathedral, instead heading to Ukraine for a pre-scheduled meeting with wounded soldiers in the conflict-ridden region, reports the Mirror.

Given that the duke carved out time from his packed itinerary to meet with the Duke of Kent, former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes he is attempting to repair relationships within the Royal family. She explained, “I think it’s a sign that Harry very much wants to remain part of the royal family. But that doesn’t mean he wants to be part of the institution. Family ties seem to mean a lot to him these days, in spite of the damage he has done and the hurt he has caused.”

She continued to discuss the bond between the Kents and Harry, emphasizing that the prince would have felt a strong urge to express his condolences in person.

She stated, “The Duke and Duchess of Kent were part of his life for many years, and they both attended Harry and Meghan’s wedding. It was a rare public appearance by the Duchess and I’m sure Harry was touched by her presence.

“I think he felt it important to go to see the Duke and express his condolences personally – I’m sure he felt it was a natural thing to do. We know that he is seeking reconciliation, and this was just another small step to show that he does still care about his relatives, even though his life is now elsewhere.”

Although Prince Harry did not attend the Duchess’s funeral, which took place in London on September 16, Jennie Bond believes this was a conscious choice by Harry to avoid overshadowing such a solemn event and to honor his commitment in Ukraine.

“No one has confirmed whether he was or wasn’t invited to the funeral itself,” Bond said. “But he would have known that the headlines would have been all about him and this was a day for the Duchess. So I think it was wise for him to stay away.

“In any case, he had a long arranged meeting in Ukraine which must have involved some very complex preparations, so it probably would have been very difficult to reschedule the trip. In the end, I think he took the wisest route: he saw the elderly Duke during a private visit, and then left the rest of the family to mourn in public.”