Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Tension With Royal Family Isn't Over Despite Visit To Queen: Report

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship with the royal family remains strained despite their visit to Queen Elizabeth II last month, a royal expert has claimed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made an unannounced pit stop in the U.K. to meet the Queen in Windsor Castle in April before they headed to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games. But royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said he believes this doesn't mean that the tension between the couple and the royal family is over.

"I’d say the rift very definitely hasn’t been healed," Fitzwilliams told Us Weekly. "That, I’m afraid, is quite clear."

An unnamed insider previously told the outlet that Prince Harry and the "Suits" alum were "very excited" to reunite with the 96-year-old British monarch. Their recent U.K. trip marked their first return as a couple to Prince Harry's home country since they stepped back from their roles as working royals and moved to California in 2020.

Fitzwilliams said he believes that there's more work needed to be done before the Sussexes and the royal family can move on from the rift, noting that they are in "an extraordinary situation."

He also warned that Prince Harry's upcoming memoir, which is due out later this year, could be another potential source of drama.

"It will again be a source of very, very substantial discord," Fitzwilliams said. "Whatever he writes, if it’s published this year, it’s going to cause problems."

Prince Harry and Markle recently confirmed that they will return to the U.K. for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations next month with their kids, son Archie, 3, and 11-month-old daughter Lilibet.

"Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are excited and honored to attend The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations this June with their children," the Sussexes' spokesperson told Harper's Bazaar Friday.

However, they will not be appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony with the rest of the royal family at the end of the traditional parade Trooping the Colour, which kicks off the main celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee on June 2.

Prince Harry's uncle Prince Andrew, who is no longer a working royal following his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, will also not be included on the balcony for Trooping the Colour, which marks the Queen's official birthday each year.

The Queen decided to limit the balcony appearance to the working members of the royal family, which include Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

While the Sussexes won't be making an appearance on the palace balcony, Fitzwilliams suggested that they may attend the Thanksgiving service on June 3 at St. Paul's Cathedral. Great Paul is the largest church bell in the country and will be rung for the service.