Prince Harry was able to demonstrate "what a great loss he is" to the Royal Family during his recent trip to the UK, a veteran royal commentator has observed.
The Duke of Sussex enjoyed a packed schedule on his four-day trip to Britain, which reunited him with King Charles for the first time in over a year and a half.
Harry filled out his days with several visits to organisations he holds close to his heart, greeting gathered crowds and inking generous donations to various causes.
His apparent public relations success, culminating in a "significant first step" towards reconciliation with his father, did not escape the eye of royal commentator Jennie Bond.
Prince Harry was said to demonstrate 'what a great loss he is' to the Royal Family during his trip to the UK
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"He is so damned good at the job and this week he really seemed to be enjoying himself. He’s a natural with the crowds: funny, informal, charming," she observed.
"This week has shown what a great loss he is," the expert reckoned.
The former BBC royal correspondent believed the Palace would no doubt have taken notice of Harry’s successful trip.
However, she cautioned that they would remain reluctant to accept a "half in half out" relationship.
Ms Bond felt that Harry's surprise trip to Ukraine demonstrated that he was pursuing an approach 'on his own terms'
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She reckoned: "As the Palace is concerned, it seems the basic conundrum remains: how can a working member of the royal family, even a part-timer, also operate in the commercial world?"
Even still, Ms Bond believed Harry may have already "come up with the answer" to the Firm’s apparent uncertainty over how to proceed with him.
The expert declared that "short, busy trips like the one he’s just done on his own terms and with his own security" would provide the necessary balance.
She felt this was further demonstrated by the duke’s sudden trip to Ukraine after leaving the UK, where he met with veterans and spoke of the need to "open up to family".
The expert felt Harry may have found a solution to a future relationship with the Royal Family with his new approach
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"Harry never ceases to surprise us these days! Everyone assumed he was flying straight back to California and now there he is in Ukraine," the commentator marvelled.
"You have to hand it to him, he is finding the halfway house the Palace refused to allow him— and he’s doing it on his own terms," she told The Mirror.
Ms Bond felt the duke’s new approach would allow him to begin rebuilding a relationship with the Royal Family, support his treasured causes and preserve the "celebrity life in California with the wife and family he loves so much".
The expert also warned that Harry’s swashbuckling style of the last week would need to cut both ways to achieve the "reconciliation" he has previously said he desired.
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Ms Bond added it was essential that Harry must now keep his dealings with the King private to preserve his hops of reconciliation
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"First, there must be discretion," Ms Bond began.
This was in reference to several damaging disclosures the duke has made in the past about the Firm - resulting in him making a promise to his father during their Wednesday meeting that their discussion would remain private.
She stressed: "It’s essential that the details must remain private, unless both sides agree to say what happened, which is extremely unlikely."
"Harry made just one comment after the meeting when asked about it and that was that the King was ‘great’. An innocuous comment which shouldn’t cause any problems with the Palace and suggests that his reunion with his dad went well," the expert observed.
This would likely be especially true if Prince Harry is keen to send his children, Archie and Lilibet, to schools in the UK.