Prince Harry will not have the option to return as a ‘half-in, half-out’ member of the working royal family. Suggestions that he could ‘ease the burden’ on his brother, Prince William, are unfounded.

On Sunday night, insiders expressed their displeasure with comments from sources seemingly close to the Duke of Sussex. They claimed that his recent meeting with King Charles, following what his team regarded as a highly successful charity visit to the UK, indicated a ‘warming of their relationship’ and the family’s ‘acceptance’ of him back into the royal circle.

The same sources also suggest it could even be the start of a new working model for the ex-royal.

Prince Harry reportedly plans to visit Britain ‘four or five times a year’ for ‘public events’, both for his own charitable efforts and potentially to support the Royal Family.

Upon discussing these claims, a royal insider remarked to the Daily Mail: ‘Whoever is behind these rumors seems to confuse a short tea meeting with a major diplomatic accord.’

There is a clear concern that some members of ‘Team Harry’ might use this month’s minor progress in the strained relationship between father and son to create a division between the King and his eldest son and heir.

They have repeated unverified claims of brewing ‘tensions’ between the King and Prince William over the perceived lightness of William’s workload.

One royal insider said: ‘These syrupy briefings from supposed Sussex sources are precisely why The King and Royal family are so hesitant to embark on any road to rapprochement. If the intention is to encourage a rebuilding of trust and relationships, they serve the precise opposite effect.

‘As last week’s State Visit clearly demonstrated, the power and impact of the modern monarchy lies in the unshakeable bond between The King and the Prince of Wales, supported by other working members of the family.’

This was a reference to the historic trip by President Trump which saw the King, Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales undertake both joint and separate engagements with the US leader and First Lady.

Afterwards Mr Trump spoke warmly of the honour he felt, and was fulsome in his praise for all working members of the family, in what was widely seen as a diplomatic triumph for the UK and prime example of the incalculable ‘soft power’ of the British monarchy.

And in what will be widely interpreted as a warning shot across the bows of those pushing a ‘pro-Harry agenda’, a well-placed royal source told the Daily Mail firmly: ‘The King is a forgiving man but has been absolutely clear in upholding his late mother’s decision that there cannot be “half-in, half-out” members of the working Royal family.’

The latest inflammatory claims were made to the Mail on Sunday newspaper, which reported that ‘high level talks are underway to gradually bring King Charles and Prince Harry together in a public show of unity for the first time in at least six years’.

The pair last appeared at a formal public engagement together in April 2019, although they have been at the same family events such as Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.

It is said this is the ‘strongest indication yet’ that Harry, 41, is making ‘positive steps’ towards a reconciliation with senior royals, with ‘courtiers in both households tentatively discussing how to get father and son together more frequently over the next year’ with the aim of ultimately appearing jointly at a public event.

The suggestion that Harry has both a ‘royal household’ and ‘courtiers’ of his own has prompted snorts of surprise here, not least because the prince has made abundantly clear in his numerous attacks on the institution that he sees the whole ‘court set-up’ as at the epicentre of his issues with his family.

The newspaper also said it had been told that Harry agreed to keep a ‘low profile’ during President Trump’s visit as a ‘goodwill gesture’ to this father – another claim that has been met with much rolling of eyes.

It is even claimed that Harry is ‘hopeful’ of re-establishing a relationship with his estranged brother, even though he also admits that some family members might find it difficult to forgive him.

The same sources go so far as suggest that with fewer working royals left, there could be a need for other family members to step in and do the necessary ‘bread-and-butter’ engagements.

Above all, they added, Harry wants to see his 76-year-old father more, ‘make him proud’ and be there to ‘support him’ through his ongoing cancer treatment.

However sources have told the Daily Mail that the latest attempt to put a publicly positive spin on what remains an incredibly delicate situation was ‘entirely predictable and woefully inflated’.

They suggest that Harry’s desperation to rebuild a bridge he chose to burn down on leaving Britain is understandable, but ‘owes more to hope than reality’.

They have not ruled out ‘occasional private family meetings’ like the one that took place earlier this month, describing them as ‘possible’ – although it is also understood that none are currently planned.

But as for any kind of public role alongside the Royal Family, even as a ‘non-working royal’? ‘Absolutely not,’ sources insist.

Their reaction makes clear many think ‘Team Harry’ are over-spinning what was at its heart simply a generous and loving gesture by his father to meet, and in doing so eroding any possibility of developing trust between those involved.

A source close to Harry on Sunday night insisted, however, that the issue of whether he would return to royal life was ‘put to bed years ago’, that he is ‘very happy with his life in California’ and ‘very happy just visiting the UK as and when to support his patronages and causes’.

They insisted that there was no plan for him to work for, or alongside, the Royal Family and that wanting to reconcile with his family privately was a different matter.

A spokesperson said: ‘The Duke has made it clear that “the focus has to be on his dad”, beyond that, and on any other issues as it relates to his family, we won’t be commenting.’

The developments come after Harry and the King spoke for just under an hour at Clarence for the first time in 19 months after he travelled to the UK to undertake a string of public engagements designed to try and rescue his public image in the UK, which has been severely damaged by his repeated attacks on the Royal Family.

Many have said they find his treatment of them, particularly when his grandparents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, were so frail as being unforgivable.

As previously revealed by the Mail, most senior members have had nothing to do with him since, particularly his brother, who has been left deeply hurt by Harry’s calculated betrayal.

The King has also found it impossible to talk to his son for fear of their conversations being leaked, particularly while he was suing the British government over the withdrawal of his security after quitting the UK and moving to North America.

That case ended in ignominious defeat in April, with Harry accusing the British courts of facilitating an ‘Establishment stitch-up’.