The Duke of Sussex was questioned on whether he could ever see himself officially returning to royal life – and he had a frank 11-word answer for TV’s Good Morning America host Michael Strahan

It’s been six years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made the shock announcement that they were quitting royal life.

In that time, the couple have established a new life for themselves in California – but after a series of public attacks on the royal family, they are now all but estranged from The Firm. And it was while he was promoting his bombshell tell-all memoir Spare that Harry was asked if he would ever return to royal duties with Meghan.

He had an abrupt 11-word response. “No, I don’t think it is ever going to be possible,” he stated.

“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.”

Harry and Meghan quit royal life in January 2020 ( 
Image:
UK Press via Getty Images)

It seems the feeling is mutual; Prince William is said to have made it very clear that his younger brother is not welcome back in the royal fold. Harry and Meghan have lashed out on a number of occasions against his family, beginning with their Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021, followed by the Netflix 2022 docuseries Harry and Meghan.

Then came Spare – said to be the final nail in the coffin for William and Harry’s once close relationship. The future king was said to have been especially angered by Harry’s remarks about Princess Kate.

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, noted: “Harry’s decision to drag Kate into this narrative was both unnecessary and hurtful. She’s always been the epitome of grace under pressure, and this incident paints a distorted picture of who she really is.”

Royal expert Katie Nicholl said: “I do know that William was very angry that Harry had drawn Kate into it when he felt Kate was blameless throughout. She acted very much as the peacekeeper, she tried to get the brothers back on an even keel, and for Kate to be dragged into this mucky saga was upsetting for her and certainly did infuriate William.”

Former royal correspondent Charles Rae, meanwhile, said that the pain Harry has caused may mean that William and Kate, who are protective over their family and committed to their royal duties, may never forgive the Duke. Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, Charles said: “Well, I think it is down to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to make the first move.

“Whether or not it would be accepted by William and Catherine, I doubt very much it would be. There’s too much water which has gone under that bridge. After everything Harry and Meghan have done with the Oprah Winfrey interview, that Netflix show… Spare.

“The flamboyant curtsey by Meghan on the show as well. There’s too much gone under the bridge now. If they’re going to make the move, I am not so sure William and Catherine would respond favourably.”