King Charles' most senior aide is set to retire next year - it could impact Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal future.

12:44, Thu, Aug 6, 2026 Updated: 12:48, Thu, Aug 6, 2026

Prince Harry

Prince Harry was reportedly not a fan of the aide (Image: Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s chances of getting back in King Charles’s good books could be helped by a major upcoming Palace decision, it has been reported. Last month, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reunited with King Charles and Queen Camilla at the monarch’s Highgrove home, along with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

This was the first time Meghan, Archie and Lilibet had seen the King since 2022. The main reason for this appears to be that Harry feels that the UK is unsafe for his family, having not brought them with him on trips to Britain for four years - until last month. It is also believed that the King’s relationship with Harry and Meghan has been tense over the last few years for several reasons.

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However, reports suggest that since the £300,000 job of being King Charles’ next right-hand man or woman has been up for grabs, Harry and Meghan could have more of a chance to either mend their relationship with the monarch, or lose it.

It is believed that the fact this job will no longer be held by Sir Clive Alderton, Charles’s most senior aide who will retire next year, could be a benefit to Harry and Meghan.

Harry wrote in his memoir: “Without warning, he’d give you such a stab with his outsized stinger that you’d cry out in confusion.”

Sir Clive

Sir Clive is set to retire next year (Image: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

While some may therefore think that Sir Clive’s position in the Royal Household could have hampered the reconciliation with the monarch and his youngest son over the years, others believe it will not make any difference, according to The i Paper.

This is because, although Sir Clive advises the King, it is believed to be unlikely that he would have been able to influence the monarch on his decisions regarding Harry.

The i Paper also reports that friends of the monarch’s aide, who has worked for the royals for two decades, have insisted that Sir Clive has only ever carried out his boss's wishes.

It is believed that Sir Clive will retire next year. His job role will be replaced, with applications reportedly welcome from internal and external applicants.