Would the public want Prince Harry to return as a working royal?

There’s been a lot of speculation this week about the Duke of Sussex and whether he intends to return to the UK to his former life as a working royal.
The chatter comes ahead of Prince Harry’s 40th birthday on September 15, a milestone that prompts reflection for anyone let alone one of the world’s most famous, and most watched, men.
But it begs the question: does the public actually want Prince Harry back?
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It’s been four years since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left the UK for the United States in pursuit of financial freedom and a life away from the scrutiny of the British tabloid press.
They had initially sought a half-in approach to their official duties – allowing them to be financially independent while still representing the monarchy.
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But that proposal was rejected by Queen Elizabeth II.
Instead, the couple was left to their own devices as they settled in Montecito, California, where they have since forged multi-million deals with Netflix and Spotify (which ended prematurely last year) and embarked on various foreign visits that look remarkably like royal tours.
The recent speculation about Prince Harry’s possible royal return started with reports of an alleged “blueprint” outlining how the duke might one day begin moving in UK circles again after he had reached out to a tight group of trusted advisors with whom he worked in his former life.
The Mail on Sunday claimed certain “friends” want a key lieutenant to lead a “comeback campaign”, naming Ed Lane Fox, the duke’s former private secretary, as the ideal candidate.
But those reports were debunked days later, with “well-placed sources” telling The Telegraph UK the prince has “no interest” in returning to royal duties in the UK and is focused solely on his future in the United States.
Then came another report, this time in The Mirror, claiming Prince Harry would be open to taking up a temporary role in the royal family to “help out” if he was asked to by his father King Charles.
But Prince Harry would need an apology from his brother before coming back, the publication added.
And that seems even more unlikely than Prince Harry’s return as a working royal, thanks to his and Meghan’s various interviews – and the duke’s memoir Spare – about how bad life was for them during their time in the UK.
If he did, however, what would it look like?
The royal family has been stretched like never before this year with the King and Princess of Wales spending large amounts of time away from public-facing duties due to their cancer treatment.
While the monarch was given the all-clear to return to work in April, Catherine’s recovery is ongoing with no timeline given as to when she might resume her public role.
Their absences have left a gaping hole in the slimmed-down monarchy, with Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh taking on the bulk of engagements.
Prince William has spent a fair amount of time away from the public, too, supporting his wife’s recovery and their three children.
If Prince Harry did come back to the UK to represent the monarchy here and there, those charities and organisations he’d be promoting would surely benefit from the huge amount of publicity his presence would bring.
His brief trips back to the UK since 2020 generated huge interest, even when he wasn’t seen in public.
The duke most recently was back for the private funeral of his uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, in Norfolk but he was able to fly in and out under the radar.
His other visits – one with Meghan that coincided with the death of Queen Elizabeth in 2022, for the coronation in 2023 and for various court appearances last year – generated headlines and frenzy around the world.
But if Prince Harry did accept the call up from his father to report for duty again, surely he’d be going it alone.
Prince Harry has repeatedly said he cannot bring his wife and two children back to the UK because of fears surrounding their safety.
In an ITV interview about tabloid phone hacking in July, Prince Harry said of the UK: “All it takes is for one lone actor who reads this stuff to act on what they’ve read.
“Whether it’s a knife or acid, whatever it is, and these are things that are of genuine concern for me. It’s one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country.”
He’s been involved in a long-running dispute with the UK’s Home Office and the royal family soon after he and Meghan lost their right to automatic police protection when they stepped back from working royal duties.
Instead of automatic police protection, a bespoke arrangement was created that involves assessing each visit on its merits.
Harry is now required to give at least 28 days’ notice of his visits to the UK, including all details of his travel arrangements, to allow the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) to assess his security requirements.
However, the duke has been denied almost every request, except for the odd occasion when he has travelled to or from a royal event, such as the coronation.
In May, when Harry flew in to celebrate 10 years since the creation of the Invictus Games, he was invited by the King to stay at Buckingham Palace as he no longer has Frogmore Cottage as a UK base.
But Harry chose to stay in a hotel instead, claiming his security could not be guaranteed when coming and going from the highly-protected palace.
Prince Harry is now awaiting a date for his appeal against a High Court ruling after failing to successfully challenge the Government’s position.
Until the security is resolved, it seems impossible he’d be back as a working royal.
Prince Harry’s ice-cold relationship with Prince William doesn’t seem to be thawing and the brothers apparently didn’t speak when they were at their uncle’s funeral last week.
If reports are to be believed, they haven’t spoken to each other since September 2022 when their grandmother died.
Prince William’s frustration, anger and hurt over his brother’s repeated sharing of family secrets to the media is evident by their lack of dialogue, as is Prince Harry’s insistence on an apology.
With Prince William now heir to the throne, and hugely influential behind the scenes due to his closeness to the King and Queen, he is the biggest barrier blocking Prince Harry’s comeback.
Even the King is said to ignore calls from youngest son.
Prince Harry may be welcomed back by his other family – the Spencers and his cousins – but seeing the duke standing alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales at an engagement seems unlikely.
Recently, friends of William told The Times the future king has made it clear he does not want his brother at his coronation, when the time comes.
When Harry walked into Westminster Abbey for his father’s coronation, he did so with Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and sat three rows behind his brother.
Tellingly, there were no members of the royal family at the service of thanksgiving for the Invictus Games, inside St Paul’s Cathedral in May. Instead, Harry was supported by Princess Diana’s brother and sister, Earl Spencer and Lady Jane Spencer.
The question also remains about whether the public would embrace Prince Harry after everything he and Meghan have done since 2020.
In years gone by, Prince Harry was regularly voted the most popular member of his family.
He’d draw in the crowds at official engagements and tours and the resulting photos would show a jubilant and engaging prince.
But since marrying Meghan, Harry has become somewhat subdued on royal visits as seen during his time in Australia in 2018 when he often looked glum or distracted.
He now appears to take a back seat as Meghan shines in front of the cameras.
Prince Harry is not as popular as he once was. The latest YouGov survey showed three in 10 British people have a positive view of Harry up against 60 per cent feeling “fairly negative or very negative”.
He and Meghan usually sit low in the opinion polls, often slightly above Prince Andrew.
Prince William and Catherine are now the most popular members.
On the day of the King’s coronation, 9Honey asked various people in the crowd about their thoughts on Prince Harry returning to England for the occasion after much speculation on whether he would be there.
There was an overwhelming feeling of relief that Meghan had chosen to stay at home rather than returning for the King’s big day.
While for Prince Harry, his decision to be here for the coronation was viewed overall as “the right one” but one that smacked of being “hypocritical”.
If he chose to occasionally represent the royal family now, while still keeping the majority of his life in Montecito, it’s hard to say what the response from the public would be.
As Prince Harry approaches his 40th year, there’s no doubt he has lots to be thankful for and to be proud of.
As a father to two healthy children, with a loving wife and beautiful home, the duke has certainly achieved greatness in private.
Only time will tell whether he wants to put himself back out there on public duty in service of the people.
A year after they stepped back, the royal family said the couple would not be able to “continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service”.
In response Harry and Meghan said “We can all live a life of service. Service is universal”.
But will Prince Harry’s life of service keep him in the US or take him back to the UK?
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