When Prince Harry was asked whether he would ever be willing to return to the UK and pick royal duties back up, he had a succinct and clear response to the query

Since Prince Harry stepped back as a working royal over four years ago, the question has repeatedly been raised about whether the Duke of Sussex would ever be willing to return to the UK and represent the crown officially once again. Harry has made it clear that even now as he operates outside of the monarchy, he is dedicated to a “life of service” and has continued to work with the charities and causes that he holds dear – including Sentebale and the Invictus Games.

When King Charles and Princess Kate were both undergoing cancer treatment and unable to take part in “public-facing duties” for a time, the possibility of Harry returning in a part-time capacity to fill in for the two senior royals was raised once again. Whilst it was quickly dismissed by royal sources, Harry flew back to the UK to see his father as soon as the monarch’s condition was announced, and he has since said he was “grateful” for the opportunity to see Charles, even if the father and son have not reunited since.

Last year, when Harry’s memoir Spare was published in early 2023, the question of the possibility of his return was put directly to him, during an interview promoting the book. The Duke of Sussex succinctly summarised his thoughts on the matter with a simple eleven-word response: “No. I don’t think it is ever going to be possible.”

He then went on to explain, “Even if there is an agreement or an arrangement between me and my family, there is that third party that is going to do everything they can to make sure that isn’t possible. Not stopping us going back, but making it unsurvivable.” The third party in question is the British press, with whom Harry has launched multiple legal actions against in the last few years. During his interview with Good Morning America, despite his reservations about returning to the royal fold in terms of official duties, he expressed his hope for “reconciliation” with his brother Prince William, and other members of the family. : “I hope that we will be joined at the hip again,” the Duke of Sussex added, claiming that in his opinion: “Because, you know, if there’s something that will terrify the British press more than anything, it’s William and I being aligned.”