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Prince Charles is believed to have grown closer with his eldest son, Prince William, in recent years – as highlighted by a recent photo of the pair. The picture, taken by Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, displays an intimate connection between the pair as they smile and hug each other affectionately.

A royal expert has claimed the father and son’s close relationship was accelerated by growing tensions between the Sussexes and the rest of the Royal Family.

Camilla Tominey, a royal expert and associate editor of the Daily Telegraph, said the pair have embarked on a new stage in their relationship in recent years – as demonstrated by the newly released photograph.

Clarence House shared the picture on Sunday, to coincide with both Father’s Day and the Duke’s 38th birthday. Prince William is seen with his arm around his father, as Charles places his head affectionally on his son’s shoulder.

In an article for the newspaper, Ms Tominey then charts when William and Charles’ relationship started to get closer – as the pair were understood to clash when the Duke was younger.

The royal expert suggests a significant turning point took place in late 2018, after the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.

As tensions began to emerge between the newlyweds and other members of the Royal Family, particularly the Cambridges, William and Charles worked together to find a solution.

Ms Tominey said: “Seemingly at odds with the family ‘Firm’, it was soon Harry and Meghan who were starting to feel marginalised as William and Charles worked closely together in a bid to insulate the monarchy from the crisis which threatened to pitch the Sussexes in direct competition to the House of Windsor.

“Behind palace gates, Charles was increasingly involving William in his decision making – much to the chagrin of Harry who felt pushed out by their ‘away days’ to Duchy of Cornwall estates.”

At the beginning of the year when Meghan and Harry announced their decision to step down as senior royals, William and Charles were once again working together to agree a solution.

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Ms Tominey said: “The drama that ensued thrust William and Charles together as they worked with the Queen to find a solution – just as they had two months earlier when Prince Andrew was forced to ‘step back from public duties for the foreseeable future’ over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.

“Insiders now describe the three generations of monarchy working in ‘lockstep’, with the Sussexes’ departure said to have fostered a “new found spirit of cooperation” between the trio of households.”

The royal expert also suggested the father and son grew closer due to other reasons.

Ms Tominey said the pair bonded as the Cambridges grew their family and welcomed three children into the fold.

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Becoming a grandparent is believed to have helped Charles mellow and take a slight step back from his work.

Kate is also said to have been a unifying force in their relationship.

The royal expert said: “There is also another important, and often overlooked factor, in the closer bond between William and Charles: Kate – the woman who has tamed a stubborn prince, once so often at loggerheads with his father.

“Although often quick to praise their mother’s legacy, Wiliam’s quest to bring about lasting change in areas such as mental health not only echoes her work – but is becoming increasingly reminiscent of long-term projects of his father’s like the Prince’s Trust.”

Royal author Penny Junor agrees and said: “The Middletons have been a really stabilising influence and I think have helped William to realise the importance of family.

“Not only has William become more grounded since becoming a parent but you can tell he is really enjoying fatherhood.

“And it’s the same with Kate. She’s proving herself to be a really good wife and mother as well as being good at the job.

“She’s not stealing the limelight from William, she’s there to support him.”

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