Prince Harry is reportedly feeling “very bored” in California and is considering a temporary move back to the UK, according to a royal expert.
Author Tom Quinn told The Mirror that the Duke of Sussex misses his duties as a working Royal and believes he can “retain his value” by returning to the UK at some point.
This comes amidst rumours that Harry had thought about assisting the Royal Family during the King’s illness – however, sources in the palace have dismissed any chance of his return.
Quinn said: “Harry does miss being a working royal being a royal is the only thing he is trained to do and he is getting very bored in California. He knows that to retain his value and the interest of the world he is better off not being a retired royal so offering to come back to help out at least reminds the world who and what he is.”
He shared that the Duke of Sussex was deeply upset when he found out his father had cancer and wanted to do something helpful right away.
However, Harry knew his offer might be turned down due to the numerous criticisms he and Meghan have made against the Royal Family in recent years.
“Harry knows he will never be allowed to be a permanent part-time working royal staying six months in the States and then six months in the UK,” Mr Quinn said.
“The family no longer trust him and, besides, Meghan is absolutely against it. There is far too much bad blood now for it to be even a remote possibility.”
The royal expert explained that although Harry knows Meghan doesn’t want him to take on a part-time royal role that would involve spending half the year in the US and the other half in the UK, the Duke wanted to show his family he cares by making the offer.
But Mr Quinn believes there’s too much tension at the moment for the royals to consider letting Harry back into their circle as they no longer trust him.
“Harry was apparently visibly shocked and upset when he heard that his father had cancer. Having lost his mother aged 12 he had come to assume that, whatever their ups and downs, his father would enjoy the longevity enjoyed by the late Queen and Prince Philip,” Mr Quinn said.
During an interview with Good Morning America last week, Harry revealed his hopes to reunite with the royals. When asked if an illness in the family could have a “reunifying effect”, Prince Harry responded: “Yeah, I’m sure. Throughout all these families I see it on a day-to-day basis the strength of the family unit coming together.
“I think any illness, any sickness brings families together.”
Harry also said he was “grateful” to be able to visit his father after his cancer diagnosis, adding that he loves his family. He told GMA host Will Reeve: “Look, I love my family.
The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him I’m grateful for that.”
In the same chat, Harry shared that he’s “loving every single day” of his life in sunny California. He also admitted that he’s thought about becoming a US citizen.
When asked about it, he said: “I have considered it, yeah. American citizenship is a thought that has crossed my mind but is not a high priority right now.”
Harry and Meghan decided to step back from their Royal duties in January 2020 and moved across the pond to America. They now live there with their two little ones, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
