Despite Prince Harry’s recent reconciliation with his estranged father, King Charles, the Duke of Sussex is not returning to his responsibilities as a working member of the British royal family… at least, not yet.

A source close to Harry told Town & Country magazine that the Duke of Sussex has no plans to return to his role as a senior member of the British royal family after he and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from their responsibilities in 2020. “That was put to bed years ago,” the insider said. “He saw his dad and yes he wants to reconcile with his family. But that doesn’t mean he’s going back into the institution.”

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Speculation that Harry could be a working royal came after the Daily Mail reported that talks were underway for Harry and Charles to make a public appearance together, with the reunion serving as an offer for Harry to “take some load off” of his brother Prince William’s royal responsibilities. “Harry’s visit to the UK was not about trying to show up or compete with his brother – in fact, the opposite,” the insider said. “It was to remind William that Harry can be there to take some of the load off, given some of the criticism William has received for carrying out a lower number of engagements than his father.”

The insider added, “That doesn’t need to be as part of the ‘working’ Royal Family. It can just be doing what he loves to do and does best – supporting causes close to them both, such as the Diana Award and conservation… More than anything, though, he wants to see his father more. He wants to make him proud and be there to support him through his treatment.”

Speculation also fueled when a source told the Daily Mail that Charles told Harry that there were no “half-in, half-out” members of the British royal family, meaning he was either a working member or not. “The King has been absolutely clear in upholding his late mother’s decision that there can be no ‘half-in, half-out’ public role for members of the family,” the insider said.

A spokesperson for Harry, however, seemingly denied that his reunion with Charles was a way for him to come out of retirement as a working royal. “The duke has made it clear that the focus is his father. Beyond that, and on any other issues as it relates to his family, we won’t be commenting” the spokesperson said in a statement to People.

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