Prince Harry Is Already Operating Under 'Half-In, Half-Out' Royal Deal After His Reunion With King Charles: Source

Prince Harry has effectively begun operating under an informal "half-in, half-out" arrangement with the royal family after his reunion with King Charles opened the door to regular returns to Britain, sources have exclusively told OK!.

The Duke of Sussex, 41, was planning to visit the U.K. "every few weeks," according to sources – before it was announced this week he and his family are returning to the U.K. in August, with their children already thought to be enrolled in schools in Britain.

A source familiar with the situation told OK! in an exclusive interview: "This should not be mistaken for Harry being restored to his old position or quietly returning to the ranks of senior working royals – that simply isn't what is happening. But the practical reality is becoming much closer to the kind of transatlantic 'half-in, half-out' existence he hoped might be possible when he first stepped away under the terms of Megxit. Harry and Meghan are keeping their mansion in California to preserve the independence he and Meghan have built there, while simultaneously establishing a much more substantial presence in Britain."

"What's particularly interesting is that nobody appears to have sat around a table and formally resurrected the original half-in, half-out proposal. Instead, circumstances have evolved to the point where elements of that model are beginning to happen naturally and Harry is edging closer and closer to finalizing the agreement he wanted under Megxit all along. There isn't a new royal job description or some dramatic Palace announcement coming – it is much more subtle than that. Harry is effectively discovering that he may be able to have meaningful roots in Britain again without totally abandoning the independent American life he fought so hard to establish."

Harry and Meghan Markle originally sought a different working relationship with the monarchy before stepping down as senior royals and relocating to North America.

The couple ultimately ceased being working members of the royal family, while Harry later lost the use of Frogmore Cottage in 2023.

Harry was described as "overjoyed" following his and his family's recent Highgrove reunion with King Charles, before news of their U.K. return was announced.

The Sussexes also visited the grave of Harry's mother, Princess Diana, at Althorp, the Northamptonshire estate owned by her brother, Charles Spencer.

There is no suggestion yet from the palace that Harry and Meghan will pick up their lives as full-time working royals anytime soon.

Queen Elizabeth II ruled out their proposed "half-in, half-out" model following their "Megxit" departure, stating they could not continue with the responsibilities of royal public service while pursuing independent lives.

The couple's relationship with Prince William, 44, and Kate Middleton, 44, also remains deeply strained following Harry's memoir Spare, the couple's Netflix series and their interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Harry has nevertheless moved toward repairing his relationship with Charles. The Sussexes' recent Highgrove visit represented a significant development, with Charles seeing his grandchildren Archie and Lilibet after years apart.

Harry has previously spoken about wanting Archie and Lilibet to experience their British heritage and build relationships with his relatives.

A source said: "What Harry is trying to establish in Britain should be viewed as the rebuilding of a personal life in the country he still considers home, rather than an attempt to recreate the royal existence he left behind. Those are fundamentally different ambitions, and that distinction is important when assessing what this move actually means. He wants the ability to spend meaningful periods in Britain, allow his children to develop stronger connections with their British heritage and relatives, and devote more time to the charities and relationships that remain important to him here. But none of that means he is attempting to reverse Megxit or simply step back into the position he occupied before 2020. The royal landscape has changed enormously since then, as has Harry's own life, and there is currently no indication that the institution is preparing to restore him to an official role."

"There is a tendency to interpret any increased presence in Britain as evidence that Harry is somehow returning to the monarchy. In reality, he could establish a home here, spend months of the year in the country and become much more visible in British life while remaining completely outside the working Royal Family. Coming home geographically is one thing; being welcomed back into the Firm is something entirely different. Harry appears focused on recovering a piece of the British life he has missed, rather than reclaiming his former place within the institution. A return to Britain should therefore not be mistaken for a return to royal duty."