Reports even suggested the duke would be happy to step into a temporary role to fill in as his father undergoes cancer treatment, however, sources later dismissed them.
Now royal expert Jennie Bond claimed that Queen Elizabeth’s decision to firmly shut the door to Harry ever coming back was a “bit hasty”.
She told the Times Radio: “I’ve always held the view that the late Queen and the Palace were quite harsh when they put down this red line ‘you can’t be half-in, half-out’.
“I think in a modern, evolving monarchy, perhaps a way could have been found, to incorporate what they wanted which was, we thought, some privacy at least, to not always being on show.
“With the royal role, what became so tricky was that they wanted to be financially independent, which means commercial, which means a conflict of interest.
“But I think they were a bit hasty the Palace in saying ‘absolutely no’.”
The expert went on to add that there might have been a way back for Harry if it wasn’t for his older brother, Prince William.
Bond said: “William’s word wields great power, as it should, he’s the heir to the throne.
“And I’m afraid all that’s been going on [since the Sussexes left the Firm], the bricks, the accusations, the hurt, the pain, the rift is too deep now between William and Harry and I think William has more or less blotted Harry out of his mind.”
