As Meghan Markle and Prince Harry face yet another period of separation, insiders reveal the couple’s determined efforts to heal their strained relationship with the British royal family, even at the risk of straining their marriage. This summer, Prince Harry is planning to spend several weeks in the UK, making a final plea for reconciliation—a move that could lead to a lonely summer for Meghan.

It’s been over four years since Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, left the royal nest for a new life in California. Despite numerous attempts to repair their relationship with the monarchy, their efforts have been met with a firmly closed palace door. The couple’s attacks and accusations in their 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, their 2022 Netflix documentary, and Harry’s 2023 memoir “Spare” have only deepened the divide.

However, the recent cancer diagnoses of Harry’s father, King Charles, and his sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, have prompted Harry to prioritize mending his family bonds. An insider notes, “Harry is going to have to return to the UK solo as it makes sense for him to take a longer trip. He’s convinced that if he spends a longer period of time there, he’ll have a better chance of reconnecting with his family.” This separation is expected to be difficult, with the source adding, “There’s talk of a month or so apart, which is going to be very difficult for them both as a couple. It might make for a pretty lonely summer.”

Despite their solid six-year marriage and family life in Montecito with their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, Harry and Meghan have been leading increasingly separate lives over the past two years. Meghan has been focused on her Hollywood career, launching her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, and wrapping up filming for her new Netflix cookery show. Meanwhile, Harry’s world has been upended by family health crises.

Meghan’s refusal to accompany Harry to the UK stems from a mix of practical and emotional reasons. The insider explains, “She’s respectful that Harry has to go back to his homeland for practical and emotional reasons, but that doesn’t mean she’s going to go with him. She’s got way too much on her plate with the brand and her new cooking show, as well as looking after the children. The last thing she needs is the stress of going back to the UK, where she fears she’d be heckled again in public, which she finds really painful.”

This fear is not unfounded, as Meghan’s popularity has plummeted in the UK. A May poll showed that only 25% of UK voters had a favorable opinion of her. Her previous visits to the UK have been fraught with tension, including a notable incident where she was reportedly banned from the late Queen’s bedside during her final moments.

Despite the challenges, Harry is determined to mend the rift with his family. The insider adds, “Harry is very anxious to go home and see his dad, catch up with his friends for his birthday in September, and also pay a visit to his aunt, Princess Anne. But the situation hasn’t changed for Meghan. It will be hard on Meghan, but there’s just no way she can face going with him.”

This separation will undoubtedly test their marriage, but both Harry and Meghan are confident they can endure it. The source concludes, “No doubt it’s going to be a test for his marriage, but both he and Meghan are confident they can survive it just fine.”