Prince Harry faces four brutal steps if he is to win back the trust of the Royal Family, according to a royal insider. The Duke of Sussex, 41, reportedly believes a return to royal duties is possible after his July trip to the UK with Meghan Markle and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
A deal refused in 2020
Harry has long sought the 'half-in-half-out' arrangement that would allow him to work as a royal in the UK while earning money abroad. The late Queen Elizabeth II refused that deal in 2020, prompting Megxit and the Sussexes' public criticism of relatives in TV interviews and books.
Last month, King Charles and Queen Camilla met Harry and his family privately at Highgrove, following assurances that the Sussexes would not cash in on the meeting afterwards. The departure of the King and Queen's principal private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, in May 2027 has also encouraged Harry to think he may finally get his way.
Sir Clive's exit
Sir Clive, who was reportedly depicted as 'The Wasp' in Harry's memoir Spare - described as charming, weedy and arrogant - is set to leave his position next year. But royal insider Kinsey Schofield warned that his retirement alone will not clear the path back.
"Harry may welcome Sir Clive's retirement personally, especially after portraying him so negatively in 'Spare,' but if Harry believes one retirement suddenly clears the path back into the Royal Family, I think he'll be disappointed," Schofield said.
The four steps
Schofield cited four key steps Harry must take to regain the Royal Family's trust and respect. "It begins with rebuilding credibility," she said. "That's something only Harry can do - and it takes time, consistency, and discretion."
The questions are whether Harry can be patient, rebuild credibility after his US late-night talk show skits, and remain consistent. Meghan has built a reputation for being capricious, with dozens of staff leaving over the years. The couple have also monetised private conversations by teasing them on TV or publishing them in full in Spare.
The four steps may sound simple, but for the Sussexes, they could prove an impossible path to walk.
