Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Might Be Allowed to Be “Part-Time Royals” When Charles Is King, Expert Says

As anyone who has ever seen even a trailer for The Crown knows, royal family drama is nothing new—but it sure feels like it’s been on the rise in recent years. Of all the headline-making, feud-rumor-fueling things The Firm has been through in the past few years, few have been more polarizing or debate than Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal exit.

For anyone who needs a reminder, in 2020, Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step back from the duties that come with being working royals and relocated their family to California.

The Queen didn’t publicly oppose the couple’s decision, but she seemed to decide very quickly that being a working royal was an all or nothing kind of gig and reportedly shot down Harry and Meghan’s requests (and publicly-stated wishes) to continue to represent the monarchy and work with their patronages.

According to royal author Tom Quinn, Harry and Meghan might see their part-time royal dream scenario come true when Prince Charles becomes king. “Meghan and Harry believe that when the elder royals die—in other words, Elizabeth—they may well be able when Charles is King, be able to come back and be the part-time royals that they really wanted to be,” Quinn claimed (citing palace sources for the intel) on the To Di For Daily podcast. “So that they would be six months [being] working royals and six months in the States or wherever doing their own thing.”