King Charles may have hoped that stepping into his mother’s shoes as head of the Commonwealth would keep the position firmly within the royal family, but a surprising new report has put Prince Harry and Meghan Markle back into the conversation about who could eventually take over. The suggestion is particularly striking given the couple’s decision to step away from royal duties in 2020 and the difficult relationship that has followed.

The role is not automatically passed down through the monarchy. Although Charles succeeded Queen Elizabeth after her death in 2022, the position is not hereditary, meaning the Commonwealth’s member countries have a say in who leads the organization next. That leaves room for speculation about the future, and Private Eye magazine has now suggested that Harry and Meghan could be among the names being discussed.

According to the magazine, Prince William has shown little enthusiasm for taking on the responsibility, while conversations at the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the Caribbean reportedly included the possibility of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepping into the role.

Could Harry and Meghan Be Back in the Commonwealth Picture?

The report is especially unexpected because Harry and Meghan were once closely involved in the Commonwealth’s work. Their connection to the organization was part of their public role as senior members of the Royal Family, but that changed after they stepped down from royal duties.

Private Eye claims that the couple attracted support in parts of the Commonwealth after Meghan spoke publicly about her experiences within the royal family, including her allegations of racism during the couple’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The magazine wrote: “Among those being whispered about in Antigua to succeed [the King] are H and/ or M.”

It also suggested that Harry and Meghan had gained considerable support across sections of the Commonwealth following Meghan’s comments about racism within the monarchy.

There is no indication that Harry and Meghan have been officially put forward for the role or that anyone has made them an offer. For now, the idea appears to be little more than talk among those attending the meeting, rather than a serious proposal backed by Commonwealth leaders.

King Charles Could Face an Unexpected Dilemma

For Charles, the suggestion raises an awkward question about the future of an organization that has remained closely associated with his family for generations. Queen Elizabeth devoted much of her reign to maintaining relationships across the Commonwealth, and Charles has continued that work since becoming King.

The possibility of Harry and Meghan taking on a prominent role would be particularly sensitive given the history between the Sussexes and the Palace. Their departure from royal duties created a clear separation between their public lives and the work carried out by working members of the Royal Family, while their later interviews and public comments deepened the divisions.

Yet the Commonwealth is not simply a royal family organization. Its leadership reflects the agreement of its member countries, and the next head does not have to be the monarch’s heir. If support for a different candidate were to emerge, Charles would not be able to decide the matter alone.

That distinction is important, especially when considering the suggestion that the King might have to accept a future in which Harry and Meghan regain a place in an organization from which they once held prominent roles.

A Remarkable Turnaround for the Sussexes

Harry and Meghan’s previous Commonwealth positions ended in 2021, when they were no longer president and vice-president of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust following their decision to leave royal duties. Their possible return to a leadership position would therefore represent a remarkable change in circumstances.

It would also place them in a very different position from the one they occupied when they stepped away from the monarchy. Rather than carrying out duties as working royals, they would potentially be taking on a role connected to the wider Commonwealth, an organization whose members include countries with very different histories and relationships with Britain.

For now, however, there is no confirmation that Charles has agreed to such an arrangement or that Harry and Meghan are being formally considered. The idea remains a reported possibility, and much would depend on the views of Commonwealth leaders themselves.

Still, the suggestion is enough to raise an intriguing question: after years of distance between the Sussexes and the Palace, could the King eventually find himself accepting a future in which his younger son and daughter-in-law play a much bigger role in the Commonwealth than anyone expected?