Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit life as senior members of the Royal Family in 2020, it is no secret that their relationships with the rest of the duke’s family have become fractured.
While leaving the Firm was a big enough bombshell, the subsequent Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021, the Netflix docuseries Harry and Meghan in 2022, and the release of Harry’s memoir Spare a year later was enough for the duke, 40, to no longer be trusted by his family.
Although he is still on talking terms with some of his relatives, including his father King Charles, other relationships are now non-existent, with Prince William no longer believed to be on speaking terms with his brother.
The Royal Family are also believed to have taken steps to stop Harry and Meghan returning to the royal fold, which includes grouping together.
Paul Burrell, who worked as Princess Diana’s butler from 1987-1997, said earlier this year that any reconciliation between the two camps is highly unlikely as the royals have “no space” for the Montecito couple.
Speaking on behalf of Slingo, he said: “I don’t think they will ever be invited back with open arms.
“The doors are firmly shut: I think the royals are consolidating.
“They are keeping tight-lipped and they are keeping everything in-house.I think that is their tactic: they have regrouped and pulled together and there is no space for Meghan and Harry.”
The idea that the family no longer trust the couple was also put forward by Grant Harrold, former butler of the King between 2004 and 2011 when he was The Prince of Wales.
Harrold exclusively told Express.co.uk that while he believes the 75-year-old monarch would want to welcome his son back, trust would be an issue for the family.
He said: “I’d like to think because of knowing how close they were that it’s possible, but I think the trust with the Royal Family is a big issue and I think in the back of their minds they are always going to worry.
“Never say never, time is a healer. I think it depends on what he does over the next couple of years if we can see him come back in.
“I’m sure his father would probably love to welcome him back with open arms, they’ve just got to be sure that what’s happened in the past few years is not going to happen again.”
