According to a royal expert, Prince Harry could be given the chance to take on a senior royal role if Prince William is unable to succeed King Charles. Although current succession plans do not include the Duke of Sussex, there remains a possibility that he could return to the royal family under certain circumstances.
A report by The mirror suggests that concerns over King Charles’ health have led to succession plans being accelerated, with the focus largely on Prince William and Kate Middleton. While this has reportedly left Harry feeling sidelined, royal expert Tom Quinn revealed that in the “unlikely event” that both King Charles and Prince William are unable to rule, Harry “could potentially serve as regent.”
“The idea of William not being able to take over is a nightmare that no one wants to contemplate,” Quinn told the publication. However, he added some optimism about Harry’s potential future role, saying: “It is certainly constitutionally possible that Harry could be called upon to be regent in the unlikely event that both Charles and William are out of the picture.”
Quinn further explained that historical precedent supports this hypothesis, noting: “The last time Britain had a regent in the early 19th century, we had someone who was a complete scoundrel, someone who makes Harry look like one of the good guys. Also, within certain limits, the constitution makes no allowance for individual popularity or family feuds.”
However, the royal expert clarified that this would not mean Meghan Markle would automatically become queen. Instead, she would be given the title of regent’s wife. “Harry would certainly not be passed over without careful consideration if the need for a regent arose, but that would not make Meghan queen,” Quinn said.
He further explained: “She would be the wife of the regent, nothing more. Caroline of Brunswick only became queen when the prince regent became king in 1820, and under the British constitution, precedent is everything.”
While this scenario remains highly unlikely, it suggests that Harry’s royal role could still be important in the future if unforeseen circumstances arise within the royal family.