Prince Harry has ‘no interest’ in returning to Britain to resume royal duties five years after decamping to the United States with Meghan Markle, sources claim – amid reports friends are drafting plans to ‘rehabilitate’ the Duke of Sussex in the UK

Prince Harry has “no interest” in leaving the United States and returning to his royal duties in Britain, sources say.

The Duke of Sussex has reportedly sought advice from trusted former advisers on how to orchestrate a return to the United Kingdom, nearly five years after he and his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, stepped down as senior royals and moved to Montecito.

But sources close to Harry, who turns 40 next week, told the Daily Telegraph that he lives in California with Meghan, 43, and their children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.

They also claim that Harry has a “great” new group of friends in the United States and that he has several projects in the pipeline.

He is currently preparing for a trip to New York, where he will participate in activities related to his various charities, including the Halo Trust and the Diana Award.

The Mail on Sunday reported last week that the duke had turned his back on his “Hollywood publicists” and was instead texting former confidants “from his old life” about how he could arrange a return from exile in the US.

It marks the first step in a possible strategy to “rehabilitate” Harry and repair his relationship with his father, King Charles, following his cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

Sources stressed that Harry and Meghan, who have lived in self-imposed exile in California with their two children for the past four years, are not seeking a permanent return.

The newspaper also revealed that the couple have parted ways with another American PR consultant. Christine Weil Schirmer joined the Sussexes as head of communications in 2020, but quietly left late last year.

She is the tenth staff member to leave the group in three years. Last month she joined PR giant Brunswick, where she advises clients on reputation management.

Last month it was announced that Josh Kettler, the Sussexes’ chief of staff, had suddenly resigned after just three months in the job.

“Harry is turning away from all sorts of Hollywood publicists and seeking advice from his old friends and colleagues,” a source said.

“He’s clearly reaching out and thinking, ‘I need to do something different because what I’m doing is clearly not working.’ In short, he’s rethinking the way he operates.”

Prince Harry’s representatives did not respond to a request for comment.

Ending the bitter feud with his brother William is not seen as a realistic goal, but last week this newspaper revealed that the king may be open to healing the rift with his youngest son and has consulted with religious leaders as he explores the nature of forgiveness.

At least one of the advisers Harry approached was a trusted ‘old-school’ figure known for his loyalty and discretion.

A friend of his has already devised a strategy to ease Harry back into British circles – even by taking on “very modest royal duties” – though the duke is reportedly open to ideas from many quarters.

A source said the friend “believes that if Harry returns to the UK without fuss, without publicity and without taking part in everyday events, he can prove himself and win over the British public again.

He would have to accept, however, that he might be reduced to ribbon cutting for a long time. But it would give him a purpose to work again.’

But the source said this would only happen “if certain family members could find it within themselves to allow it.”

Separately, the Duke has sent conciliatory messages via WhatsApp to a number of old friends in the UK. They are ready and willing to help him pave a path back to Britain, with some describing their task as Operation Bring Harry In From The Cold.

Friends hope the duke’s former private secretary, Edward Lane Fox, can lead a comeback. One said: ‘If anyone can do it, it’s Edward. The last time I saw him I wanted to grab him by the shoulders and say, “Ed, please take our boy home”. Now is the time.’

When asked if he would help Harry, Lane Fox told this newspaper: ‘I’m afraid I have no opinion on that.’

Although there are fears that Harry’s relationship with his brother has been irreparably damaged, the Duke appears less bitter of late.

To the relief of his family, he has decided not to update his bitter memoir, Spare, for the paperback edition due out October 24, and he will not give any interviews to promote the publication.

On Thursday, the prince flew from his Montecito mansion to join his estranged brother, the Prince of Wales, for a memorial service for their late mother’s brother-in-law, Lord Robert Fellowes.

The service took place at St Mary’s Church, near the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, but witnesses told The Mail the brothers “kept their distance” and did not speak to each other.