Duke of Sussex asks former aides to help plot RETURN from his US exile in first stage of ‘rehabilitation’ strategy: Prince’s friends vow to help smooth path back and dub it ‘Operation Bring Harry In From The Cold’

By William On Aug 31, 2024

Prince Harry has sought advice from former advisers in Britain on how to organise a return from exile in the United States, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

According to sources, the Duke of Sussex is consulting people ‘from his old life’ as a working royal because he is reportedly unhappy with the advice from American image experts.

These overtures are the first step in a strategy to “rehabilitate” Harry, which would involve him spending more time in the United Kingdom to repair his relationship with his father and possibly effect a partial return to the royal family.

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 can also reveal 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.

Prince William and Prince Harry walk side by side after viewing floral tributes for the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Windsor Castle

Prince Harry and Meghan during their trip to Colombia earlier this month

Prince Harry and Meghan pictured with their children in December 2021

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 last night.

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.

Sources say the Duke of Sussex is consulting people ‘from his old life’ as a working royal after reportedly becoming dissatisfied with the advice of American image experts.

Prince William and Prince Harry arrive for the unveiling of a statue of their mother, Princess Diana, in July 2021

Prince Harry and Meghan during their trip to Colombia this month

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend the ‘Afro Women and Power’ forum in Cali, Colombia, on August 18

Prince Harry at the Unidad Recreativa El Vallado in Columbia on August 18

Meghan and Prince Harry at the Unidad Recreativa El Vallado on August 18 in Cali, Colombia

Now the Sussexes lose another key PR adviser

Another key adviser to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has left, The Mail on Sunday reports.

Christine Weil Schirmer, considered one of Silicon Valley’s top publicity gurus, joined the Sussexes in 2020 as head of communications for their charity Archewell, tasked with boosting the Sussexes’ global image. She was named a senior adviser in 2021.

But the Mail on Sunday can reveal that she joined PR agency Brunswick at the beginning of August to advise clients on reputation management. Described as ‘the real deal’ and ‘widely respected’, she is the tenth member of staff to leave the Sussexes since they moved to the US.

She previously worked for Apple and Pinterest and studied at Northwestern University in Illinois at the same time as Meghan. It is not known whether their paths crossed.

At the end of last year, she quietly quit her job with the Sussexes.

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 mundane 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, who turns 40 this month, has been sending 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, Mr Lane Fox told this newspaper last night: ‘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.