The return of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to the United Kingdom has reopened old questions inside the Royal Family, but according to one royal expert, the biggest obstacle they may face is not public opinion — it is the united front forming around King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

According to a report from Daily Mail, royal historian Andrew Lownie claims that Queen Camilla is “firmly on Team Kate” and has been encouraging King Charles to establish clearer boundaries with Harry and Meghan as they begin their extended stay in Britain.

The Sussexes arrived in Birmingham with their children, Archie and Lilibet, in what is expected to be a longer return to the UK. Their decision has already created speculation about their future role, especially because they stepped away from royal duties in 2020 while continuing to maintain their global public profile.

But Lownie suggests that behind the scenes, senior members of the Royal Family are carefully watching how this new chapter develops.

According to his view, the King and Prince William may have been aware of Harry and Meghan’s return plans earlier than publicly suggested. Rather than immediately reacting, the Royal Family may have chosen to keep some distance while waiting to see how the public responds.

Lownie claimed:

“The King and the Prince of Wales have long been aware of the Sussexes’ plan to return to Britain, but it has suited their purposes to distance themselves whilst public opinion is tested.”

The concern, according to the historian, is that Harry and Meghan could attempt to recreate a version of the “half-in, half-out” arrangement they originally wanted before leaving royal duties.

That possibility has reportedly raised fears of creating “two competing courts” — one centered around William and Kate as the future of the monarchy, and another around Harry and Meghan’s independent celebrity influence.

The person who appears to have the strongest connection with Kate in this situation is Queen Camilla.

Lownie described Camilla as being extremely close to the Princess of Wales and suggested that she supports a firmer approach toward the Sussexes.

He said:

“The Queen, who is very close to Kate, has been stiffening the resolve of the King to establish clear boundaries for Harry and Meghan.”

This relationship between Camilla and Kate has reportedly grown stronger in recent years, particularly after Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal duties.

Their public appearances together have shown a more comfortable relationship, including moments where observers noticed warmth and support between the two women.

During a Remembrance Sunday appearance, communication expert Judi James described their interaction as:

“An exchange of what looked like warm chat between the present and future queens.”

The moment was seen as a symbol of unity between the current Queen and the woman expected to become Queen in the future.

Camilla has also reportedly developed a warm relationship with Kate’s family, including her mother Carole Middleton, further strengthening the image of a close bond between the two sides.

However, the history between Harry and Camilla remains complicated.

The tension dates back to Harry’s memoir Spare and his later interviews, where he made serious accusations about his stepmother’s role within the Royal Family.

Harry claimed that Camilla had worked to improve her public image following the controversy surrounding her relationship with then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

During his interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, Harry repeated his belief that Camilla had developed connections with the media to reshape public perception.

He described her efforts as part of a strategy to rehabilitate her image and suggested that her relationship with the press created risks within the Royal Family.

Despite those comments, Harry later said he still loved every member of his family. When asked about his relationship with Camilla, he admitted they had not spoken for a long time but said that when they met, they remained polite.

When Harry and Camilla recently reunited at Highgrove, reports described the atmosphere as civil but without any major emotional breakthrough.

For some royal observers, that moment suggested that public appearances of unity do not necessarily mean old disagreements have disappeared.

The situation also places King Charles in a difficult position.

Lownie suggested that there is still disagreement within the Royal Family about how Charles has handled both the Sussex situation and the controversy surrounding Prince Andrew.

He argued that some believe the King’s response has been too slow, describing it as a “too little, too late” strategy.

The historian believes the Royal Family is currently taking a “wait and watch” approach with Harry and Meghan.

Rather than immediately confronting them, they are reportedly monitoring whether the couple can rebuild trust after previous controversies involving Harry’s memoir, their Netflix documentary and their interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The central issue is not simply whether Harry and Meghan return to Britain. It is whether they can exist within the country without creating another battle over influence, attention and royal identity.

For William and Kate, the concern appears to be protecting the future image of the monarchy.

For Camilla, according to Lownie’s analysis, the priority is helping Charles maintain control and establish clear limits.

The Sussexes may have returned to Britain hoping for a new chapter, but this time they are entering a royal landscape where the boundaries may already have been drawn.