King Charles takes decisive step after Prince Harry's emotional plea

King Charles' office has expedited efforts to keep things on track amid hopes of Prince Harry's return to the royal fold.

After the Duke's reunion with the British monarch, Buckingham Palace aides believe thing will soon fall into place.

The Palace has begun the search for the monarch's next principal private secretary as Sir Clive Alderton prepares to step down in the coming year, timed to coincide with his 60th birthday in May 2027.

The decision appears to have raised hopes of the Duke’s return to the royal fold, after the 77-year-old accepted Harry's silent plea to make things possible amid ongoing reconciliation efforts.

The hunt for a new aid for the position, which reportedly commands a salary of £300,000 a year, started after Harry raised concerns about Sir Clive.

Officials are thought to be considering both internal and external candidates to fill one of the most influential post in the royal household.

The role carries constitutional weight, sitting at one corner of the so-called golden triangle alongside the cabinet secretary and the prime minister's principal private secretary.

Meghan's husband made no secret of his animosity towards Clive, widely believed to be the courtier he described "the Wasp" in his memoir Spare.

"Without warning, he'd give you such a stab with his outsized stinger that you'd cry out in confusion," Harry wrote.

Prrince Archie and Princess Lilibet's father appeared to hold Clive responsible as one of the "men in grey suits" for the late Queen Elizabeth II's refusal in early 2020 to permit him and his wife to operate as half-in, half-out working royals.

Clive's announcement to quit the more than 20-year service soon after after Harry's meeting with The king and Queen fuled speculation of Harry's return

Tom Sykes, who hosts The Royalist podcast, has described Mr Rycroft as the "chief dove" advocating for a Charles-Harry reconciliation, calling Sir Clive's exit a "huge win for the bring-back-Harry party."