The truth about Prince Harry and his rumoured return to royal life

But perhaps the most unexpected royal story of the week came last weekend, when it was reported that the Duke of Sussex was speaking to former advisors in the UK, with a view to coming “back in from the cold” and carrying out some official duties here.

I have a lot of thoughts about it all, but quite a few people were left scratching their heads over the story, which came days after Prince Harry made a top-secret return to this country to attend the funeral of his late uncle Lord Fellowes.

The trip in itself raised eyebrows, given that sources close to the Duke had suggested it would be impossible because of his ongoing concerns around security in the UK and the need to give 28 days-notice to officials ahead of his arrival.

His visit was shrouded in secrecy so that his attendance – alongside but apart from his estranged brother Prince William – “wouldn’t become a spectacle,” according to one of his friends.

Harry’s decision to stay at the Spencer family’s ancestral home, Althorp, as a guest of his uncle Earl Spencer, underlined the strength of his relationship with that branch of his family and gave him the chance to visit the grave of his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the week of her 27th anniversary.

But it also proved he can slip in and out of the country with barely any attention, which raises the possibility of him doing so more often in future.

Those close to the Duke have dismissed suggestions that he wants to return to the Firm and has been seeking counsel from advisors who played a part in his former life.

In fact, he has long stayed in touch with UK-based friends and associates for the simple reason that many remain involved with his charitable projects, such as the Invictus Games and Sentebale.

“He’s still got a network here,” a source close to the Duke tells me. “But his life is in Montecito now.”

Intriguingly, however, he does want to spend more time in the UK.

The source says: “He would love to do more for his patronages in the UK, but it’s complicated because of the ongoing security issue and that doesn’t seem to be going away just yet.”

Spending more time this side of the pond could pave the way for tentative steps towards a reconciliation with his family.

“Both sides of the family need to do more to work things out otherwise it’s going to be a massive cloud that hangs over them,” another insider tells me. “It will inevitably take time, but being back in the UK more will help.”

Harry will be back in Britain to catch up with some of his patronages before too long so it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that he could meet up with his father at least.

He also has a high-profile trip to New York for the UN General Assembly High-level Week and Climate Week scheduled for later this month, which will see him join up with several of his patronages and associated organisations, including the Diana Award, the HALO Trust, African Parks and Travalyst.

And I gather that he and the Duchess will make at least one more overseas visit before the end of the year.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they returned to Africa, where Harry’s Sentebale charity operates in Lesotho and Botswana. He last visited them back in 2019, along with African Parks and the Halo Trust.

But as for a fuller return to the UK and to royal life – I don’t see that happening anytime soon and even if he were keen to do so, he would need the agreement of both the King and the Prince of Wales.

While father and son last met, briefly, in February, a day after the monarch shared his cancer diagnosis with the world, the royal brothers are not believed to have spoken for nearly two years, since the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

But spending more time in the UK would be a start if Harry is serious about building bridges with the royal family.

This newsletter first appeared on The HELLO! Royal Club. Subscribe here to become a member to read more of Emily Nash’s newsletters, plus receive a host of other benefits.