In 2020, Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step back from the royal family, a decision which plunged the royal family into chaos. As millions watched on, a series of unprecedented events occurred: Megxit, brothers at war, allegations of racism against an unidentified royal and claims a suicidal Meghan wasn't helped by The Firm.
An interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Oprah, as well as a much-feared book by Prince Harry expected to come out this autumn left the royal family in turbulent times.
Meghan and Harry remain an important part of the family - and the Sussexes have kept their links strong after moving abroad to Montecito, California. They named their daughter Lilibet after the Queen, using her childhood nickname, and they praised Her Majesty.
While chatting with Oprah, Harry spoke of his respect for his grandmother, while Meghan added that HRH had "always been wonderful to [her]” and that she would phone her "just to check in”.
But Harry later raised eyebrows, after claiming in April that he wanted to ensure that his grandmother was "protected” and had the “right people around her”.
In a mental health podcast, he also declared his intentions to 'break the cycle of suffering', that he had suffered.
The Duke said: "If I’ve experienced some form of pain or suffering because of the pain or suffering that perhaps my father or my parents had suffered, I’m going to make sure that I break that cycle so that I don’t pass it on, basically. It’s a lot of genetic pain and suffering that gets passed on anyway.".
But what does the Queen’s death mean for the Sussexes’ relationship with the royals, and how does it change their titles?
Queen's death
After it was announced by Buckingham Palace that Her Majesty was under medical supervision, the royals rushed off to Balmoral.
Prince William flew up to Scotland accompanied by his uncles Andrew and Edward - while Harry travelled alone in a privately chartered plane.
Confusion spread as a statement from the Sussexes said Meghan would accompany him, before it was updated to say the Duke would travel alone.
One source claimed Harry had insisted Meghan accompany him, before Prince Charles told him that Kate wasn't attending, and he should travel alone.
Sadly he arrived several hours after his grandmother's death, and according to the Mail, didn't join his father and brother at the new King's home.
Instead, he remained at Balmoral Castle, along with Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex had joined their sister Princess Anne.
One insider told the paper: "Two dinners were being hosted on the royal estate that night and there was a clear divide: One was for the new king and his heir, the other was for the rest of the family."
Harry was the first member of the royal family to leave Balmoral on Friday morning, departing alone with his security detail before boarding a commercial flight to London.
Olive branch
In his first address to the nation, King Charles made a point of expressing his love for Harry and Meghan.
He said: "I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas."
According to one royal aide - he is keen for William and Harry to sort out the row.
"His view, basically, is 'sort it out', said an aide. "He hates any kind of confrontation but he does see this period [of mourning] as an opportunity for his sons."
Reunion
A call from Prince William to Prince Harry led to the first public reunion of the brothers in months as they greeted well-wishers outside Windsor, royal sources claim.
The Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex spent almost an hour chatting to the crowds of thousands, alongside Kate and Meghan.
The relationship between the brothers has been strained for several months, and the couple were last seen together during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, where they attended the thanksgiving celebrations.
William and Harry were last photographed together when opening memorial honouring their mother, Princess Diana, in July last year.
But the Times reports this walkabout wasn't the first time the pair had spoken in recent days - possibly signalling that communication remains ongoing.
In 2021, Harry told Oprah he felt let down by Charles and that “there’s a lot of hurt that’s happened”, and said his father stopped taking his calls in the build-up to their Megxit announcement.
In a move likely to have enraged William, Meghan accused the Duchess of Cambridge of making her cry in the run-up to her wedding, and the palace of failing to correct reports that it had been the other way round.
In 2019 Harry laid bare his rift with William, telling an ITV documentary crew that he and William were on “different paths” and had good and bad days.
He went on to tell Oprah that he loved his brother but their relationship was “space at the moment”, adding “time heals all things, hopefully”.
Title row
Harry and Meghan’s titles have not changed, and, although the duke has moved up from sixth to fifth in line to the throne, he is still too far down the line of succession to ever be expected to be king.
The Sussexes’ children, Archie and Lili, are now, as the grandchildren of a monarch, a prince and a princess. Rules from 1917 dictate that the grandchildren of the monarch automatically become prince or princess.
But it is not known whether they will use the titles, which they were not entitled to when they were born.
The royal family website has not updated with titles for the Sussexes' children. In the line of succession, it still lists sixth and seventh as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, below, with their parents.
A spokesman for the King said: "We will be updating the website as and when we get information."
In 20201, Mehgan suggested Archie was denied his title by the palace and that the decision went against protocol.
She spoke of her horror that he would not be entitled to police protection because he did not have a title, and suggested that the decision was taken because of his mixed race.
"It’s not their right to take away,” she told Oprah Winfrey.
She was asked by Winfrey: "Do you think it’s because of his race?”
Meghan replied: "In those months when I was pregnant, all around this same time, so we [had] the conversation of he won’t be given security, he’s not going to be given a title.
"And, also, concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.”
Vigil
Prince Harry will not wear military uniform for a final vigil to the Queen at Westminster Hall, it is understood - but Prince Andrew will.
Earlier today, it was reported that working members of the royal family only will wear military uniform when present at five ceremonial events during this period of mourning the Queen.
Omid Scobie, a biographer who wrote a book on Harry and wife Meghan Markle, tweeted that unlike his uncle, Harry will not wear uniform at the final vigil.
He said: "I understand that, unlike Prince Andrew, Prince Harry will NOT be allowed to wear uniform at the final vigil in Westminster Hall. No doubt a huge blow for the Duke of Sussex, who served for 10 years and this morning spoke of the Queen being his “commander-in-chief”.
Harry and Meghan’s titles have not changed, and, although the duke has moved up from sixth to fifth in line to the throne, he is still too far down the line of succession to ever be expected to be king.
The Sussexes’ children, Archie and Lili, are now, as the grandchildren of a monarch, a prince and a princess but it is not known whether they will use the titles, which they were not entitled to when they were born.
Memoir
It is hoped that this period of national mourning and change will spur on a resolution between the two brothers.
One figure told the Times that the chances of it occurring are 'slight, but not impossible'. 'The problem is,' added the source, 'that they have barely spoken for two years and there is both anger and grief about it all on both sides.'
Now the Royals are eagerly awaiting publication's of Harry's memoir - with William now fearing the discussion of any intimate family secrets.
And what would a resolution look like? Publication of Harry's book is crucial. He has promised the 'definitive account' of 'experiences, adventures, losses and life lessons'. At such a late stage, might publication be stopped or is he bound by the terms of a restrictive contract?
For William the issue of trust is truly at the heart of the breakdown in relations with his brother. His fear is that a book which discusses any intimate family secrets will be a deal-breaker in reconciling.
