Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their baby son Archie are set to reunite with Queen Elizabeth this summer.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have officially stepped down as senior members of the royal family effective from March 31 and will split their time between the UK and Canada.
WATCH: Meghan is the only one to curtsey to the future king as he took his seat
Baby Archie Harrison will head to Scotland for the royal family’s annual trip at the end of the year, which will mark their first trip to Balmoral as a family.
A close-pal told PEOPLE that Harry and Meghan are still “much-loved members of the family,” despite their shock move.
“That stuff runs deep. There is an element of working things through,” the friends revealed.
The news comes after a report claims the royal couple were left “crushed” after their exit from the royal family.
“To say they were crushed is an understatement,” Bazaar.com’s a royal expert Omid Scobie has revealed, adding it was “unnecessarily cruel,” and that “Things might have been different if a family member or two had stood up for them during the darkest times.”
Scobie also revealed that Harry and Meghan are “a couple very much hurting” and that it is “a wound that will take time to heal.”
He continued: “While recent tabloid coverage has made it seem like the Sussexes’ half-in-half-out bid was about wanting it all, the reality was a couple who were left with no other choice but to create their own change after being left to fend for themselves against impossible circumstances — even during her pregnancy.”
“They knew something had to change, but they also didn’t want to stop supporting the queen. One can’t help but wonder if things might have been different if a family member or two had stood up for them during the darkest times.”
“For a couple who only ever wanted to focus on their work and bring good to the world, it seems like an unnecessarily cruel ending to their royal lives. Forced to give up roles they’re incredibly proud of after sacrificing so much to get there.”
Harry and Meghan gave fans one final farewell message before Meghan headed back to Canada. Harry remained in the UK for a short period before being reunited with his family in North America.
Taking to Instagram on last Wednesday, the Duke and Duchess shared two behind-the-scene snaps of their recent meeting with young leaders from the Queen’s Commonwealth.
“Sharing an outtake from filming last week for @Queens_CommonWealth_Trust (QCT) as The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met with young leaders in their roles as President and Vice President,” the caption read.
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