Behind the scenes, groundwork for this conversation had likely been months in the making. PEOPLE reports that Maines’ London visit was officially part of her regular duties, including meetings with press, stakeholders, and figures connected to the Duke’s charities and patronages.

Neither Buckingham Palace nor Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson offered comment, continuing a pattern of silence around personal matters between the royal family and the Sussexes.

Prince Harry has said recently that he remains open to reconciliation. In a BBC interview aired earlier this summer, he stated: “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore.”

Tensions between Harry and the royal institution have been publicly known since 2020, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from their working roles. The situation worsened following their Oprah interview, a six-part Netflix docuseries, and Harry’s memoir Spare, in which he detailed years of friction, media pressure, and family hurt.

Still, some observers say a quiet, staff-level meeting such as this could represent a shift — not toward a formal reunion, but toward possibility. After years of silence and separate paths, the fact that both sides were willing to come to the table at all may be a meaningful start.