Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘long road ahead’ amid decision on UK return

A source close to Prince Harry has said that the Duke of Sussex has “no plans” to return to the UK with his young family, despite a significant shift in the royal feud

(Image: Raymond Hall, GC Imagesvia Getty Images)

Prince Harry has no intentions of abandoning his sunny Californian lifestyle for a comeback to Royal duties, sources have suggested

A glimmer of optimism appeared in the Duke of Sussex’s bitter rift with the Royal household last week, as a meaningful move towards reconciliation occurred between Palace and Sussex representatives.

King Charles and Harry’s top advisers conducted a clandestine peace meeting in London, reportedly the first substantial move in a ‘rapprochement process’ where rifts might start to mend.

Meredith Maines, the Duke of Sussex’s chief communications officer, dramatically jetted in from LA to meet Tobyn Andreae, the King’s communications secretary, at the exclusive Royal Over-Seas League club adjacent to Clarence House, the King’s London base.

The head of Prince Harry’s UK PR operation, Liam Maguire, was also in attendance.

A source revealed to the Mail On Sunday: “There’s a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in year. There was no formal agenda, just casual drinks. There were things both sides wanted to talk about.”, reports the Mirror.

However, despite the encouraging development, an insider close to Harry revealed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are “very happy” in Montecito, California with their two youngsters Archie and Lilibet, and have no desire to relocate back to Britain.

The source informed PEOPLE that the prince will carry on visiting his homeland to champion his charitable endeavours and patronages, but he has no intentions of returning with his young family. The recent rendezvous was perceived as a peace offering between the estranged father and son, with Harry revealing that communication had been sparse of late.

This encounter occurred shortly after a BBC interview that sent shockwaves through the media, in which the Duke disclosed that his father “won’t speak to him” amid a bitter legal tussle over his security entitlements while in Britain.

In discussing the protracted rift with his kin, Harry remarked: “There is no point in continuing to fight anymore, life is precious.”

In an unexpected twist that likely took the Palace by surprise, the Duke mentioned: “I don’t know how much longer my father has,” alluding to Charles’ battle with cancer.

The prince further commented that “some members of my family will never forgive me” for penning his incendiary autobiography ‘Spare’, yet he also expressed: “It would be nice to have that reconciliation part now. If they don’t want that, that’s entirely up to them.”

Insiders claim that Charles is open to a Royal reconciliation with Prince Harry, on the condition that he tones down his public criticisms of the family and ceases the “endless” interviews.

A Royal insider confided to the Mirror: “The King has consistently shown he loves both his sons and as he has done in the past is prepared to meet Harry when their diaries allow such an occasion. It’s not unusual for aides from different households to meet, especially when there is a new influx of staff starting their roles, but of course this is a significant moment.

“Senior members of the family have in the past said to Harry that he must both stop his attacks on the family as well as giving endless rounds of broadcast interviews as his only way of communication. If there is a period of calm and reflection on the part of the Duke of Sussex, then there may be a way forward for him to begin along the road of repairing his relationship with his father.

“As for his relationship with his brother, that is a different matter entirely and one which he will find much harder to repair.”

Whilst Prince William’s representatives were allegedly excluded from the unexpected gathering, specialists have disclosed the concealed influence he would have probably wielded from the sidelines regarding the monarchy’s future.

They suggest that although William shows considerably less enthusiasm for reconciling with his alienated sibling, with whom he’s purportedly had no contact for years, the encounter would never have occurred without his ‘backing and comprehension’.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams informed Mail Online: “The King would never have made these moves without William’s support and understanding. William and Catherine are the future of the monarchy.

“He has undoubtedly been furious at the way the Sussexes have behaved and undoubtedly regards Harry’s behaviour as treason of a sort. They reportedly have not spoken in over two years.'”.

Meanwhile, Royal writer Phil Dampier remarked: “The King is more anxious to patch things up than William, who I believe will never be close to his brother again.”