Insider: ‘Meghan’s figuring out her next steps… Harry’s bombshell will change things’

It had been hoped that it would be a chance for healing as the royal family prepared to gather for the funeral of Prince Philip.

The royals had been divided following the shock of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step down from their official duties, followed by their sensational Oprah interview, where they made allegations of racism and a lack of mental health support.

The funeral of his beloved grandfather was due to be the first time Harry had come face-to-face with his family for a year, and was seen as a chance to make peace following the controversial interview.

But in the run-up to the service on Saturday, there was a fresh spate of dramas. Reports claimed the royal men would wear morning suits instead of military dress to spare the blushes of Harry, who was stripped of his military titles when he stepped down. Plus there was the awkwardness over Prince Andrew – who was disgraced over his friendship with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – wanting to wear Admiral’s regalia.

It was also revealed how Wills and Harry would walk apart, separated by cousin Peter Phillips, adding fuel to talk of the depth of the rift between them following the Oprah interview.

After the funeral, Harry was expected to return to LA to be with his one-year-old son Archie and pregnant wife Meghan – who reportedly wasn’t allowed to attend under “doctor’s orders” and, as friends claimed, because she “didn’t want to be the centre of attention” at Prince Philip’s funeral.

And royal insider Paul Burrell – who worked as Harry’s late mum Princess Diana’s butler for 10 years and has known Harry, 36, since he was three – says Meghan, 39, will have to support a very broken man when he returns.

Paul, 62, says, “Harry’s world was torn apart when he left the UK and moved to California last year – and now he’s faced with the consequences. And in such devastating circumstances – to commemorate the loss of his grandpa.

“Being back in the UK, seeing his family – the family he has criticised – is extremely difficult. Seeing his beloved granny, the Queen, and to face his father and brother would not be easy. Even submerging himself back into the House of Windsor and the buildings that hold so many memories.

“The chapel – the same chapel where he married Meghan almost three years ago in very different circumstances. It will have stirred up all kinds of painful emotions for him. He will really have felt the impact of the decisions he’s made now and it’ll hit home.”

Adding that the impact of Harry’s emotional visit back to the UK would haunt him on his return to America, Paul said, “His heart is on two different sides of the Atlantic now.

“Meghan will be faced with that dilemma – the bombshell that Harry now feels split in two. Meghan will believe that what they’ve done is right – but Harry will be feeling totally torn and so things will now have to change. She will have to figure out what their next steps will be. Those two – from different worlds – are going to have to work it out to align themselves.

“He didn’t have his wife to support him at the funeral – he had to face his family alone, after they both alienated a lot of his family. I imagine he and Meghan were on the phone or messaging constantly during his time in the UK. She’ll have been supporting him and telling him he belongs there and not to take any nonsense from anybody – it’s his grandpa! But I don’t think that will help the vulnerability and regret he’ll be feeling.”

Paul says he hopes that the couple will now work towards healing the rift, saying, “It’s unlikely we’ll see any critical interviews appearing and maybe now they can work towards healing relations with Harry’s family. Hopefully, changes are now made.”

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And he believes the public will take Harry to their hearts. Paul adds, “I’m very fond of Harry and there’s something in his DNA that the public and the family will always forgive him. He’s always had a very soft spot in his granny’s heart and his grandpa’s heart.

“I remember when they were growing up and they would go to Windsor for Christmas. Harry would ask, ‘What am I going to give grandpa for Christmas? He’s got everything.’

“I would say, ‘Well, find something he’ll use.’ On one occasion, Harry said, ‘I’m going to get him a whoopee cushion.’

“I said, ‘You just be careful not to put it under granny’s chair, because that will be a whole different story!’”