Even though plenty of time has passed since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their life-altering move to the States and stepped back from royal duties, the distance between them and the royal family has not exactly shrunk. In fact, things have only gotten more intense, with constant scrutiny and backlash following the couple, even during their milestones. While the senior royals have not gone easy on the Sussexes, royal experts have only added fuel to the fire. But in an unexpected Hollywood twist, actor Ian McKellen has stepped up as a Sussex supporter, openly backing Prince Harry’s decision.

The Prince's praise came rolling in, while the royal family was hit with a storm of criticism that just would not quit.

In a recent chat with The Times of London, Sir Ian McKellen was casually fiddling with some reading material in his East London home, and right there, front and center, was Prince Harry’s tell-all memoir, Spare, lying open. “I’m most definitely on Harry’s side”, McKellen declared out of the blue, before diving into more details. “Hats off to anyone who manages to stay sane in that world,” he added, recalling a personal run-in with the Queen, who he described as being “rude” to him.

Back in 2008, McKellen was honored with the Companion of Honor by the Queen herself, who, during the ceremony, asked him if people still go to the theater. He even reenacted the icy handshake she gave him, which felt more like a go-away than a greeting. He did not hold back on the current king either, throwing a few jabs before turning his focus to Prince Harry, suggesting that the Prince might just lack the right friends to help him navigate the mess he had been in.

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Though McKellen's support is commendable, Prince Harry has been reaching out to former British aides, quietly plotting a potential partial return to the royal circle.

According to a Sunday scoop from the Daily Mail, Prince Harry has been tapping into his old network of trusted British aides, seeking advice on how to make a comeback from his US exile. Insiders say the Duke's not feeling too thrilled with his Stateside advisors and is turning to folks from his royal past. Step one in his potential return plan includes spending serious time in the UK to patch things up with his dad.

This move is meant to set the stage for what some are calling “Operation Bring Harry in From The Cold,” paving the way for a partial return to the royal fold. Sources have noted that the Sussex couple is not planning a full-time return to the UK. So, even though Ian McKellen has thrown his support behind the Prince, Prince Harry is taking a different route back to royal life.

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What do you think of Ian McKellen's support for Prince Harry? Let us know in the comments below!