What Will Happen To Harry & Meghan When Prince William Is King?

Since the day Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Dutchess of Sussex, announced on Instagram they were stepping back from royal duties in 2020, an announcement colloquially called "Megxit," they have been in a bad spot with the royal family. They now have brand deals and multiple Netflix shows, and this pursuit of money, according to royal expert Peter Hunt, is not compatible with the House of Windsor and the monarchy's brand. As he said in the documentary "Harry & Megan: The Great Divide" (via Real Royalty), it would be a case of the pair "having their cake and eating it" too. 

The couple now lives in California with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, and has apparently been excluded and sidelined from multiple royal family events. This includes being snubbed from balcony appearances, outright not being invited to Christmas getaways with the rest of the royal family, and Harry even being left on read when he asks about his father's health, as the king was diagnosed with cancer in 2024. "He has tried to reach out about the king's health," an anonymous friend of Harry told People, "but those calls go unanswered too." 

Meanwhile, the world is closely following updates on the British monarch's health. Despite Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice insisting King Charles III is doing well, sources told InTouch in early 2024 that he only has a couple of years to live, which means the reign of Prince William may be just around the corner. The two brothers, though, have apparently not been on the best terms for several years; there have been glaring red flags in William and Harry's relationship from long before Meghan's inclusion into the family. Harry has been candid about their rifts, especially in interviews, his memoir "Spare," and his Netflix series with Meghan. So, how will Harry and Meghan's lives change once William becomes king?

It is not a stretch to assume that Prince William must be fuming at Prince Harry's allegations about him laughing at his panic attacks, hitting him, and calling Meghan Markle "rude" in his book "Spare." But this isn't the only reason the Sussexes might not be invited to key royal events under William's reign; he is known to favor a "slimmed-down" royal structure, which means he prioritizes those actively involved in public duties, per the Daily Mail. Also, the future king might follow the lead of King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II, who have been discretionary over royal titles. Monarchs grant, adjust, or withhold titles according to tradition or public opinion, otherwise, the institution's dignity could dissipate, and William may exercise these rights without warning.

A viral example was Prince Andrew's legal troubles after being accused of sexual abuse by the then-underage sex trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre at convicted felon Jeffrey Epstein's private island. Elizabeth, his own mother, removed his honorary military roles and required him to stop officially using "His Royal Highness," a style that Harry and Meghan don't use anymore either, despite still using their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles. If William decides to soften his relationship with his brother — whether for a genuine personal interest or as a PR move — he could assign the Sussexes ceremonial roles to maintain public unity. 

Still, even in that unlikely case, the Sussexes might not be interested. Knowing that his brother would be king, Harry still chose to spill about their falling-outs. Also, him and Meghan stepping back from their royal duties wasn't an impulsive decision. Elizabeth gave them one full year to reconsider their plans before they made the final decision, and Harry and Meghan still decided to leave. 

Public opinion must be closely watched by the monarchy, as it might influence how included or excluded Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be in the future. According to a 2024 poll, less than 30% of the British public favored the Runaway Royals (via IPSOS), so it's no surprise that neither King Charles III and Queen Camilla nor William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, attended the christening of the Sussexes' daughter Lilibet the year before, despite People reporting that both couples had been invited to the event. However, prior to their departure announcement in 2019, the Sussexes enjoyed relatively high favorability ratings in the United Kingdom, and who's to say they won't be able to rehabilitate their image with time? After all, William will likely be king for three to five decades if he lives as long as his grandfather Prince Phillip, and the British public sentiment toward Harry and Meghan and the monarchy might change during those years. 

For instance, Queen Camilla was hated and vilified in the 1990s for being Charles' "other woman," but she slowly rehabilitated her image through her dedication to charitable causes such as literacy, domestic violence, and osteoporosis awareness. By 2024, half of the U.K. viewed her favorably, per Statista. Some outlets, including News24, claimed that in 2023 she was not only accepted but even adulated.

As they aren't working royals anymore, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle don't receive financial support from the royal family. However, multiple sources of income have been flowing in since their royal departure in 2020. Their Netflix series "Harry & Meghan" and the books they have both written are some examples. When William becomes king, they may continue writing books and producing documentaries, series, or podcasts about their stories or issues they are passionate about, such as women's labor rights, mental health, and veterans' issues. They've already scored partnerships with major companies like Netflix and Spotify, so it won't be much of a challenge for the now-financially-independent couple. 

Keynote speeches are another profitable activity for them. According to The Sunday Times, they could earn up to $1 million per speech after signing with the Harry Walker Agency. Harry also delivered a keynote for BetterUp after being named its chief impact officer, a job with a yearly salary as high as $2.5 million, per the Mirror. And even if they do not receive a salary for it, they will still be directors of Archewell Inc., a nonprofit named after their son Archie, through which they can keep fighting for causes they believe in.

Also, Meghan could come back to acting any day! She had just wrapped her role as Rachel Zane on the hit TV show "Suits" in 2017 when she announced she was transitioning out of acting and assured the public she was not "giving anything up." She told BBC News, "I just see it as a change. It's a new chapter." William becoming king could also provide the Sussexes with more financial stability. It means King Charles III will have passed, which possibly means more inheritance money besides the millions of pounds Harry has already inherited from Princess Diana and the Queen Mother.

Just as rifts in Prince Harry's family have deepened these past years, so have the ones in Meghan Markle's. However, the couple's move to California did strengthen their bond with the duchess' mother, Doria Ragland — the only family member from Meghan's side to attend their wedding. She lives near the couple and is involved in raising their children, per the Daily Mail. As opposed to Meghan's half-siblings Samantha Markle and Thomas Markle Jr., Ragland has not spoken negatively about her daughter. Even if Samantha and Thomas Jr. reach out to Meghan to reconcile in the future, it seems unlikely that this will happen, given that their estrangement stems from personal and public betrayals, regardless of who is king and of any changes in the couple's lifestyle.

Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, is not an option, either. Not only has Thomas publicly spoken ill about Meghan and made their rifts public, but he is allegedly close to the end of his life. In 2024, Samantha told the Daily Mail that he has had two heart attacks and a stroke. "We don't know how long he has," she said. She also called out Meghan for not reaching out, despite it all, since before her wedding in 2018. "Meghan has no idea what she is missing out on," she went on, "because when my dad goes, it will be too late. Believe me, I know. You can't get back that time. It leaves a hole in your heart. ... She will never be able to look in the mirror."

So, when William is king, the only immediate family member close to the Sussex couple will likely be Doria, a consistent source of support.

The royal family's approach to  Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when Prince William ascends to the throne will likely reflect broader concerns about the monarchy's image and its ability to maintain neutrality. So, even if William and Harry reach reconciliation and want to be back in each other's lives, the former could be perceived as acknowledging that there is some merit to the Sussexes' racism allegations, accusations of the future king of physically assaulting Harry, and his claim that Queen Camilla is "dangerous" on "60 Minutes." 

So, would healing his relationship with his brother be worth a reputational nightmare for William? Considering the history between the two, probably not. Additionally, Harry and Meghan have a celebrity-style approach to life: Hollywood deals, personal interviews, and Netflix shows, which clashes with the traditional, duty-first ethos of the royal family — one focused on public service. Keeping their distance from the couple, and, in turn, from the drama, is a way of communicating to the people that they are focused on their formal functions, such as charity work.

Still, the royal family is aware of past situations where family drama made headlines in every corner of the globe. Edward VIII's marriage to Wallis Simpson nearly caused a constitutional crisis, and it was his exile that allowed George VI to rebuild stability. Similarly, Princess Diana's transparency and candidness about the royal family during her divorce changed the family's reputation forever. Harry and Meghan are now part of this "rogue" group of figures who disrupt its image, so carefully curated for generations. This not only means that they most likely will never be back in the palace, but that their relationship with their family might never heal, as just an invitation to a family function can raise eyebrows. 

Princess Catherine of Wales and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, have not always had the closest relationship. Over the years, Catherine and Meghan have reportedly developed something of a feud — no thanks to their very different approaches to royal life. Despite the two princesses' historic rift, however, some sources say that Catherine is ready to put aside her differences with the Duchess of Sussex and turn a new leaf. "Kate wants the family to reconcile," an insider told Life & Style in 2024. "With the king's health continuing to decline, there's only so much time for that to happen. Kate is on a mission to bring Harry home."

Of course, it's hard to say how long it will take for the Sussexes to make amends with the rest of the royal family. After Prince Harry published his tell-all memoir, "Spare," Prince William and King Charles III were reportedly left feeling humiliated and betrayed. Although these wounds might take a while to heal, insiders say that Catherine is determined to make things right. In practice, this means that William and Harry could potentially make up by the time that the former is crowned king. 

A Harry and William reconciliation could benefit the monarchy, but it could also be a good thing for Catherine, who has long stressed the importance of family ties. If she helps bring the brothers back together, Catherine could become the royal family's new peacemaker, bringing her a great deal of respect from within the Firm.

If outreach attempts between the Waleses and the Sussexes are successful, we might see a new era of family bonding. This could be especially important for Prince William and Princess Catherine's three kids, as Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis have thus far had very little contact with their cousins, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

To understand how this might play out, we only need to look at William and Prince Harry's relationship with their cousins from Princess Diana's side of the family. Much in the same way that Harry has clashed with the rest of the Windsors, Diana's brother – Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer — once feuded with King Charles III. Because of this rift between the Spencer family and the British royal family, William and Harry hardly had any contact with their Spencer cousins. Making matters more complicated, several of Charles Spencer's children grew up overseas in South Africa. This geographic distance did even more to prevent the cousins from getting to know each other.

Interestingly, however, William and Harry have since reconnected with their Spencer cousins. Lady Kitty Spencer has collaborated with William on important charities, and her three siblings all joined her at Harry's wedding. As we look toward William's future reign, it's possible that Archie and Lilibet will play a similarly supportive role in the lives of their royal cousins. They may even work with George on important philanthropic endeavors.

Even though reconciliation is certainly on the table, Prince William probably won't want the Sussexes to become working royals during his reign. Although it's hard to know how things will evolve in the future, rumor has it that William will want to lead a slimmed-down monarchy. "He wants expenses to be monitored closely, and any fat trimmed straight away," an insider told In Touch. "He doesn't want there to be any sense that special perks are being handed out to the royals." In practice, this will likely mean decreasing the number of services available to members of the royal family. It will also potentially involve booting certain royals off of the palace payroll.

Royal expert Hilary Fordwich discussed this possibility in a 2025 interview with Fox News, hinting that William might have little patience for those who haven't been loyal to the monarchy. Candidates for losing William's monetary backing include the prince's disgraced uncle, Prince Andrew. Fordwich also implied that William wouldn't necessarily be thrilled with the prospect of bringing Harry back into the financial fold. "As a millennial, he won't and can't risk public association with disastrous members of the family who merely serve as distractions from public duty," Fordwich claimed. This means that even if William and Harry reconcile, it's unlikely that the Sussexes will be invited to work for the monarchy when William becomes king.

Prince William is not the only one who might not provide Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, with 100% of his support moving forward. Reports indicate that some palace staff members are allegedly determined to get revenge on Harry and Meghan. And these negative feelings apparently run deep. Many of the Sussexes' previous hires have reportedly found it nearly impossible to work with the couple. Some have allegedly needed therapy following their time with Harry and Meghan. While these claims are certainly shocking, they do echo reports from former palace aide Jason Knauf, who claimed to have witnessed Meghan bully her staffers. 

Although it's impossible to determine what really went down between the duchess and her team, it's fair to say that there's plenty of bad blood between the Sussexes and the palace staff. In fact, there is so much negativity — and such little trust — flowing between the warring parties that it's unlikely things will be resolved before William becomes king. This means that Harry and Meghan likely won't be moving back into any royal residences after William takes the throne. The palace staff probably wouldn't support such a move, and the Sussexes might not enjoy living among those who have historically leaked gossip to the press.

Although King Charles III has suffered some serious health issues, it's hard to say when Prince William will become king. If Charles regains his health — like many of his fans hope — William won't wear the crown for many years, and this would arguably be the best scenario for the monarchy. Charles could enjoy a long and prosperous reign, allowing William even more time to train for his role. It could also mean that all the buzz surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, would lose relevance by the time William became king.

As newsworthy as Harry and Meghan have been since their 2018 wedding, the couple is largely expected to fade in importance over time. After all, this is what happened to Queen Elizabeth II's "spare" children. While Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward garnered a lot of attention around the time of their respective weddings, the public's interest in their lives arguably waned as the years went on. Most royal fans found themselves way more drawn to the next generation of royals — in this case, King Charles III and his family.

By the time William takes the throne, it is possible that Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis will have captured the public's interest. Harry and Meghan, meanwhile, might find themselves sidelined, which would ostensibly make it easier for Harry and William to reconcile in relative privacy.