Exclusive Look at Prince Harry's Royal Roadmap: Duke 'Misses' Monarchy Life and Would 'Like to Return to It' 1 Day

Harry, Duke of Sussex, is and always will be the son of a monarch — but his new life in Montecito, Calif., with Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, "brings him both joy and frustration."

According to former royal butler to King Charles III, Grant Harrold, who worked in both his and Harry and Prince William's households from 2004-2011, the royal rebel Duke could be homesick. The former palace aide exclusively tells The Royal Observer that he does "believe there is a part of Harry that does want to return to royal duties."

"He was brought up that way and knows how much good he is able to do when he carries out royal engagements," he adds. "I believe he likely misses doing this and would like to return to it one day. He can’t do this without the backing of his father and these are conversations they would need to have before he could return to royal duties."

Although promising, this runs counter to another well-known former royal butler who believes things will likely get far worse for Harry and Meghan before any palace doors swing back open for the Duke.

"Harry has pressed the self-destruct button, and he is going ahead with what he thinks is right, and I think he will come unstuck," former royal butler Paul Burrell said in May on behalf of Spin Genie. "I don’t think all their plans are going to pan out; I think there is a timescale to his destruction."

There is also the question of whether the British public and even His Majesty's subjects in the global Commonwealth realms would want Harry back at all.

"They also need to consider whether the public would want them to return to royal duties — this is something they have got to weigh up and decide," Harrold continues. "I think there is definitely room to return and carry out royal duties for Harry with the backing of his father, but they’d also need to ascertain whether the public want them back as the monarchy is very much influenced by the Great British people."

As The Royal Observer previously reported, Prince Harry and Meghan have not visited the United Kingdom as a couple since the September 19, 2022, State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Numerous commentators have shared how they feel the former Suits star "will never set foot in Britain again." Many more hold firm that the pair will divorce at some point, with one palace insider stating that this will happen "only when Meghan finishes with him."

But for now, and certainly, as their children grow up in sunny California, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are the "epitome" of a content couple.