Following renewed reports that Charles is not speaking to Harry, campaign group Republic has pointed out that he has no choice.

Peers have a legal and constitutional right of access to the monarch. Harry is a peer in his capacity of Duke of Sussex.

Documents retrieved from the parliamentary archives show that this right remains in force.

Responding to the revelation, Republic's Graham Smith said today:

"I imagine that most people would view Charles not speaking to Harry as a family matter but there are constitutional implications. Harry is a Duke and therefore a Peer. In fact, Harry is one of the first people to appear in the Roll of the Peerage."

"Peers have the right to access to the monarch. So if Harry wants to meet his dad, the constitution says he must be able to."

"If Charles is refusing to speak to Harry at all as media reports appear to suggest then that would seem inconsistent with the law and the constitution of this country."

"Of course, in a sensible society that separates family feuds from the workings of national institutions this wouldn't be an issue. But the monarchy isn't sensible, it's nonsensical."

"That doesn't mean however that we should allow the royals to ignore the UK's constitution when it doesn't suit their private concerns."

"What it does mean is that we should separate the royal family and its internal squabbles from the workings of Britain's political system."

"There should be no peers, and no monarch."

See the parliamentary archive material here: https://assets.nationbuilder.com/republic/pages/5947/attachments/original/1746706488/Right_of_access_to_sovereign_by_peers_-_ST_176.pdf?1746706488

Other relevant sources: