Following the ruling by a U.K. court to dismiss his case to have his security reinstated, Prince Harry surprised everyone when he did an interview with the BBC. The duke’s unexpected sit-down from a location near his home in California came with claims that his father, King Charles, could have but chose not to help with his court case.

“I’m devastated,” Harry admitted about the decision. “Not so much as devastated with the loss that I am about the people behind the decision, feeling as though this is okay. Is it a win for them?”

He then insisted that he can never bring his children and his wife back to the U.K. and said, “I love my country. I always have, despite what some people in that country have done … and I think that it’s really quite sad that I won’t be able to show my children my homeland.”

The prince also expressed that he’s ready to reconcile with his family and has forgiven them. But that doesn’t mean the working royals have forgiven him for dragging their names through the mud in TV shows, in interviews, and in his book Spare. And now, someone who used to work for the family and knows Prince Harry well says the king has responded to his estranged son with a public display.

King Charles’ ex-butler says monarch just sent a message to Prince Harry in a very public way

Grant Harrold was King Charles’ butler for seven years. During his time working for the now-monarch, his duties included that of valet, housekeeper, house manager, and driver. Harrold also looked after Prince William and Prince Harry whenever they stayed at Highgrove House. 

Harrold opined that seeing the royals who had a place on the balcony during the VE celebrations was a clear message to the monarch’s youngest son.

Speaking on behalf of Slingo, Harrold told Showbiz Cheat Sheet: “It’s very positive to see the Prince and Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton), their children, Princess Anne with her husband, and Edward and Sophie on the balcony with the king and queen. This is what I imagine is the future of balcony appearances. You used to get a lot of extras on the balcony, but this shows how much it’s changed — and it’s changed a lot.”

Harrold added: “It’s a smaller royal family. This is a clear message to Prince Harry — this is the royal family, this is it now. What we saw on the balcony is the future of the monarchy. It’s a very important signal to them, but also to the country and to the world.”

Former royal aide also believes Harry has some regrets about leaving his old life behind

The former royal butler previously said that he didn’t think Harry and Meghan would ever be able to return to the royal life they once had and that the prince likely has some “regrets.”

Harrold told JeffBet: “I’m not sure they could ever be working royals again … There’s part of me that thinks Harry does have some regrets about the fact that he’s left his home life, his friends, and his family behind to start a new life in the U.S. It was a big move with a lot of sacrifice.

“For Meghan, she still had her friends and, to an extent, her family in the form of her mom, so she didn’t have to make as huge a sacrifice. But I’m a huge believer in fate and things happen for a reason.”