Prince Harry, Meghan Markle ‘still hope’ they will be asked back to be working royals: ‘They are kidding themselves’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly hoping for a temporary return to the UK’s royal fold — but “on their own terms.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have expressed interest in helping out with royal duties while King Charles III and Kate Middleton undergo their respective cancer treatments.

However, according to royal expert and author Tom Quinn, it’s unlikely that the royals will have the Sussexes return.

“Both Meghan and Harry still hope that at some point they might be asked back to become working royals on their own terms — it’s a rapidly shrinking possibility, but the couple have talked about this at length and the fact that senior royal numbers are seriously down at the moment has rekindled their hopes,” he told the Mirror.

“As I understand it from palace contacts, they are kidding themselves if they think they will be invited back in any way.”

The Post revealed in February that Charles has been toying with the idea of having Harry back on a temporary basis, despite the duke being kept at arm’s length from ongoing succession talks.

But it soon emerged that Prince William was reportedly “blocking” Harry’s return to the royal fold in a desperate bid to protect his ailing wife.

Elsewhere, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the royal family’s health woes could provide the “perfect opportunity” to mend the royal rift.

“This is a dread situation, a major operation followed by cancer,” he told the Sun. “There is always sometimes in the most awful and serious thing sometimes opportunities come as well . . . one must hope there is as much positivity as possible that’s what she is spreading with the message like that.”

“This is also an opportunity for the trolls and the evil people spreading malicious rumors to be silenced,” Fitzwilliams added.

The Post has reached out to reps for the Sussexes for comment.

Following the Princess of Wales’s shock cancer announcement Friday, Harry and Meghan said they hope for privacy for the Middleton as she undergoes treatment.

“We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace,” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a statement.

It’s understood that Markle and Harry, who quit royal life in 2020 and hightailed it across the pond to Montecito, California, made contact with the Prince and Princess of Wales “privately” following Middleton’s announcement.

Still, it appears as though the Waleses made a conscious effort to keep the Sussexes out of the loop regarding the health woes, sources told The Post.