Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are reportedly harboring a secret desire to return to the royal fold as part-time working royals, according to royal author Tom Quinn. The couple, who stepped down from their roles in 2020, are said to be hopeful that King Charles will take a more lenient stance on their status following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
"Meghan and Harry had always hoped that when Queen Elizabeth died, Charles would take a less strict view of what it means to be a working Royal," Quinn told the Mirror. He added that Meghan "would have loved" the idea of spending six months in the UK as working royals, followed by six months in the United States, as it would "bolster brand Sussex which is less and less interesting without the working Royal angle."
However, the late Queen Elizabeth II had reportedly told Harry that he would have to be "in or out," with no room for "half jobs." This was one of the topics discussed at the Sandringham Summit, a crisis meeting called when news broke of Harry's decision to leave the Firm. The Queen was said to have had the room swept for bugs to avoid any eavesdropping.
Despite the Sussexes' alleged desire to return, King Charles is known to be in favor of a slimmed-down monarchy and is reportedly less than pleased with the couple's continued use of their royal titles while no longer serving as full-time working royals. At this point, a royal return for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appears unlikely.
The couple recently attempted to boost their brand with a redesign of their new website, sussex.com, which serves as a "one-stop-shop" for all news and updates about them. The website includes updates on Meghan Markle's joint podcast collaboration with Lemonada Media, nearly one year after Spotify axed their lucrative £15.8 million deal.
Critics have been quick to judge the new website, pointing out that the couple used the Duchess' coat of arms. Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun, "They have every right to use the coat of arms, but this involves using loopholes to effectively bring back 'SussexRoyal' and exploit their royal status. They have caused the family tremendous amounts of damage."
Meanwhile, rumors have been circulating that Prince Harry may be given another chance to serve the monarchy amid King Charles' cancer battle and ongoing issues within the royal family. Some commentators and historians believe that the Duke of Sussex, who is fifth in line to the throne, may be assigned a key role by King Charles.
A source close to Harry and Meghan claimed, "The Duke is waiting for his cancer-stricken father King Charles's call to return to the royal family." Some fortune tellers have even predicted that Harry could replace Prince William to become the next King of England under mysterious circumstances.
British author and Nostradamus commentator Mario Reading warns that King Charles may have to abdicate his throne under less-than-ideal circumstances, with Harry, "one who will have no mark of a king," taking his place instead of Prince William.
Critics also allege that Harry, who once mentioned wanting his father and brother back despite the royal rift, is envious of taking a key royal role in the future.
As the royal family navigates through health crises, scandals, and internal conflicts, the question of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's potential return to the fold remains a topic of intense speculation and debate.
