ROYAL FAMILY NEWSPrince Harry and Meghan Markle Found a Way to Pursue the 'Half-In, Half-Out' Arrangement Queen Elizabeth Refused in 2020, Expert Claims
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex asked Queen Elizabeth for a 'half in, half-out' position within in the royal family back in 2020.
Sept. 8 2026, Published 4:54 p.m. ET
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently moved back to the United Kingdom after six years away.
According to a royal expert, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly found a way to embrace their "half-in, half-out" arrangement that the late Queen Elizabeth refused to support back in 2020.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Departed the Royal Family in 2020
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently moved back to the U.K. after six years in California.
Meghan, 45, and Harry, 41, stepped back as senior members of The Firm in January 2020 and headed for Montecito, Calif., to get away from the royal limelight.
At the time of their exit, the couple asked the queen — who died in 2022 at the age of 96 — if they could earn their own income while still representing the Crown. However, the monarch did not accept this proposal.
Queen Elizabeth refused Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's arrangement before they left the royal family six years ago.
"Harry may feel vindicated because, superficially, he has created something resembling the freedom he originally wanted," royal expert Kinsey Schofield told Fox News on Tuesday, September 8. "But I think calling it a victory misunderstands what the queen rejected."
"I see absolutely no reason to believe she would have changed her mind," Schofield added.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Will Not Be Returning to Their Royal Roles
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's children are currently attending school in the U.K.
"Queen Elizabeth spent 70 years protecting the distinction between the Crown and the individual. It seems unlikely that one of the defining judgements of her final years would suddenly have become negotiable," the Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered host went on.
Meghan and Harry returned to the U.K. on August 26 and will be staying for an extended amount of time. Their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, are currently attending school in the country for the time being.
Despite the Suits star and the army veteran making their grand comeback to England, they will not be undertaking any official royal duties.
King Charles recently released a letter that detailed Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's royal status.
They will be residing in a private, non-royal residence outside London, while also maintaining both their California home and their vacation property in Portugal.
King Charles sent a letter to British government officials on Monday, September 7, where he clarified Meghan and Harry will remain "private citizens" and will not be coming back into the royal fold.
"There is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used," the memo stated.
"The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity. In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests," the guidance letter went on.
