“There have been talks when Harry was here previously, he said he wants to come home but he has to make sure it is a safe place for his wife and his family,” the source told the Daily Express. “Meghan has issues about security and serious concerns about some really nasty trolls.”

Having sent a personal plea to the Home Secretary last year, after he lost his long-running battle with the Home Office over a decision to remove his automatic right to 24-hour armed police security resulting in defeat last May, the ruling is being revisited.

A risk management board is reassessing his security risk level and will make recommendations accordingly. A decision is expected within weeks, with some reports suggesting that a decision is already “nailed on”, with police security set to be reinstated.

But the risk assessment has not yet been concluded, with the Home Office saying speculation on the outcome is just that, as no one can say with any certainty what decision will be made.

The source explained that Harry’s heart “will always be with the UK,” but they need to see how things play out.

The One Year to Go Ceremony for the 2027 Birmingham Invictus Games will take place at the start of July, with Harry expected to attend. No official announcements have yet been made, but a source said “it is likely he will attend”, noting that the duke has gone to every countdown ceremony since it was launched in 2014.

Security remains a huge issue for the duke, having previously cited this as a major barrier to visiting the UK and why he is reluctant to bring his children and wife back over.

In an interview with the BBC hours after he lost his security battle, Harry said it would be “impossible” for the family of four to return to the UK. “I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point,” he said.

This remains his position, with a separate source noting that “he has always been clear that he cannot see how he can bring his family to the UK unless proper security measures are in place”. Unless the security situation has changed, his position remains the same, they added.

Another obstacle also remains, Meghan’s dismal popularity ratings in Britain. But Harry believes that his wife could win back the support of the British public, despite years of antipathy and mistrust towards the former actress.

If the security situation changes, the duchess plans to join him in the UK this summer, an insider close to the Duke has said.

He hopes the public will warm to her so they can both return to the UK to undertake charitable engagements.

Meghan hasn’t returned to the UK since attending the late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in September 2022 and has no huge desire to return following her perceived ill-treatment by the press and public alike. However she recognises that Britain is Harry’s home and wants to support his attempt to reforge part of his life there.

Last September the Duke returned to conduct a string of public engagements reminiscent of his time as a senior working royal, and wants to continue supporting his few remaining patronages in this way with his wife by his side.

The insider added that the couple believe that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s very public fall from grace at the end of last year has paved the way for their return.

They explain that this is why Harry has been thrashing out plans to visit the UK more often. “With Andrew and everything going on, it’s the perfect timing for them,” the source said. “It’s a very carefully, well thought out plan.”

The source, who knows Harry well, claims that the duke and duchess have plans to attend a private family event with the Royal Family in July alongside a separate meeting with the King at a later date. But they refused to be drawn on further details.

However, with no obvious big birthday, anniversary or event in the diary, it is difficult to know what they could be referring to.

When Buckingham Palace was approached about the potential meeting, they flat out denied that any plans were in place for the King to meet with Harry, with a source adding: “I would be astonished if they met [this summer].”

Even Harry’s team were sceptical about a royal reunion, denying that any discussions had taken place. But when this was put to the source, they said the duke had been making arrangements himself.

With Harry focused on his nine-week trial against ANL, who he and seven other high-profile figures are suing over allegations of unlawful information gathering, claims the publisher denies, no announcements about events are expected until at least the spring.

The source said Harry was “doing what he needs to do”, but would like to start rebuilding bridges in the UK.

During his brief return to London this week, Harry did not meet with his father or any other members of the Royal Family. It is understood that the King wants to keep his distance from his ongoing litigation.

When Harry returned last September, the duke met with his father for 55-minutes, where they enjoyed a private tea at Clarence House. After years of launching attacks on the Royal Family from his mansion in Montecito, Harry is ready to down swords and reconcile with the King, who is still receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.

In May, Harry told the BBC: “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious.”