The rift between Prince Harry and the Royal Family has been one of the most widely discussed family disputes globally. Since Harry stepped down from his position as a senior royal, the tension between the two parties has only deepened. The Duke and his brother, Prince William, were recently seen at their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes’ funeral but did not appear to speak to each other.
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Earlier, Harry flew to the UK for the Invictus Games but did not visit his family. However, now royal insiders are suggesting that the Duke is contemplating a part-time return to the UK. This follows reports that he may be removed from the line of succession.
Prince Harry planning a major comeback as part-time royal
According to Mail Online, Harry has been in contact with his UK friends and trusted former aides as he considers a possible return from the United States. He is reportedly seeking advice from people ‘from his old life’ after American experts failed to help him achieve his goals.
An unknown source told the publication:
Harry is turning away from all sorts of Hollywood publicists and is seeking counsel from his old friends and associates.
He is clearly reaching out thinking, "I need to do something different because what I'm doing is clearly not working". In short, he is rethinking the way he operates.
The source emphasised that Harry is not looking to make a permanent return but hopes to be a part-time royal, engaging in ‘very low-key royal duties.’ One of Harry’s friends believes that ‘if Harry comes back to the UK with zero fuss, does zero publicity, and attends very mundane events, he could prove himself and win over the British public again.’
The supposed effort to bring the Duke back to the UK has been dubbed ‘Operation Bring Harry In From The Cold’ by his friends. Harry is said to be in contact with them to seek advice on how best to navigate the rift between him and his family.
The Prince has not commented on the claims or revealed that he does in fact want to return to the UK in any capacity. However, the news does come after he parted ways with yet another American PR adviser.
Prince Harry and Meghan struggling to retain staff for their ventures
Christine Weil Schirmer, the couple’s former head of communications, was hired in 2020 to help establish them independently in the United States. With a background that includes leading communications for Pinterest and other high-profile companies, Schirmer was considered a key hire for the Sussexes as they navigated their post-royal life. However, Schirmer left her role ‘quietly late last year.’
Following her departure, Josh Kettler, a seasoned public relations professional, began working with the Sussexes just before their trip to Nigeria. He was hired to guide Harry through his next phase, but the PR adviser has also left the couple after only three months. Mirror reports that he was hired on a ‘trial’ basis to assess the fit, and the departure is understood to have been ‘mutual.’
Kettler’s exit marks the 18th staff member the couple has ‘lost’ in the past three years. The couple is reportedly ‘humiliated’ by yet another staff member’s departure, according to The Sun. A source said:
Of course, they’ve tried damage limitation but, behind closed doors, it’s utterly humiliating and demoralising. Meghan’s secretly feeling quite abandoned after this keeps happening.
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Sources used
Daily Mail: Duke of Sussex asks former aides to help plot RETURN from his US exile in first stage of 'rehabilitation' strategy
Mirror: Another Sussex PR advisor quits as Harry and Meghan's head of communications 'left quietly last year'
The Sun: Meghan Markle & Prince Harry’s 18th staff quitting is a ‘humiliating’ blow & Duchess feels ‘abandoned’, claims insider
