Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s step back from the royal family has raised questions on where their relationship stands with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Rumors that the Sussexes were “bullied” out of the family prompted a rare joint statement from William and Harry– the first time the brothers have publicly taken a stand against reports of a rift between them.

However, the departure will also impact the “Fab Four” as a working unit. Previously, the couples were at the forefront of a mental health textline service before Harry and Markle departed from the Royal Foundation.

Here’s everything we know about how the relationship between Harry, Markle, William, and Middleton has been changed since the Sussex family’s departure.

Princes Harry and William denied claims that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were "bullied" out of the royal familyPrince William, Prince Harry
Foto: The Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex.sourceGetty Images

The Duke of Sussex and Duke of Cambridge recently accused a British newspaper of running a "false story" about their relationship.

"Despite clear denials, a false story ran in a UK newspaper today speculating about the relationship between The Duke of Sussex and The Duke of Cambridge," a spokesperson for the brothers told royal correspondent Rebecca English.

"For brothers who care so deeply about the issues surrounding mental health, the use of inflammatory language in this way is offensive and potentially harmful," the statement went on.

English added that it was made "clear from my conversations this morning that BOTH brothers are deeply, deeply unhappy about suggestions that Harry feels he has been 'bullied' out of the Royal Family by William."

The statement was thought to be in response by a story in The Times, which claimed that Harry and Markle's reasoning behind stepping back from the royal family was to do with "constantly being told their place."

Other than the statement, Prince William and Middleton are yet to publicly comment on Harry and Markle's departure from the royal family.

According to royal correspondent Emily Andrews, who was at the couple's walkabout in Bradford last week, William and Middleton "politely ignored" fans who tried to ask about Harry and Markle.

However, Prince Harry did admit there was a rift between the brothers last year

The reports of a feud between the couples escalated after Harry and Markle split from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Royal Foundation last year to create their own charity.

However, several experts suggested the relationship of the "Fab Four" could be on the mend after Archie's birth, with royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams previously telling Insider that motherhood could create "a new bond" between Markle and Middleton.

"I'd say that as Kate already has three children, the new baby may well mean there is a new bond between them," Fitzwilliams said.

There's nothing to say this couldn't be true. After all, the women were spotted at several private engagements together in 2019, including Wimbledon and their husbands' charity polo match with their children.

However, since Harry and Markle plan to divide their time between the UK and Canada, it's unlikely they will be able to spend as much time with the family as they used to.

meghan and kate wimbledon

Foto: Markle and Middleton at Wimbledon 2019.sourceKarwai Tang/Getty Images

Additionally, ITV's royal editor Chris Ship said that "a royal aide told me recently that they [Harry and William] are back on track" back in June 2019.

Nonetheless, it seemed this wasn't the case when Harry addressed the rumors of a rift in an ITV documentary about his and Markle's tour of Africa that aired in October.

"Part of this role and part of this job, this family, being under the pressure that it's under - inevitably, stuff happens," he said. "But look, we're brothers. We'll always be brothers. We're certainly on different paths at the moment, but I'll always be there for him, and as I know, he'll always be there for me."

While the BBC reported in October that a "well-placed source" said William was "furious" with Harry about the interview, for another palace official, "that was not his understanding of the prince's mood."

"Instead the official suggested a mood of concern, for the safety of the couple," the BBC said.

Fitzwilliams told Insider that it was never Harry and Markle's intention to seek approval from the family after their documentary aired.

"There is little doubt that Harry and Meghan's ITV documentary about their Southern African trip where they talked openly about the strain of royal life is unlikely to have gone down well with the most senior royals," Fitzwilliams said.

"It wasn't meant to. Harry gave credence to the rumors of a rift with his brother. Meghan implied that she was surviving, not thriving, and that there were few inquiries as to how she was doing."

The Queen made a rare emotional statement, where she said she is "proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of my family"

Despite reports that the Queen may not have given the couple her blessing to leave the royal family, Her Majesty came out with a rare emotional statement showing her support for them.

"Harry, Meghan, and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognize the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life," the statement read.

Meghan Markle and the queen

Foto: Markle and Queen Elizabeth II at their first official outing.sourceJeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

"I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family.

"It is my whole family's hope that today's agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life," she added.

However, Andrews challenged the statement on Twitter, saying that the family have been "devastated" by the couple's choice to walk away.

"Buckingham Palace at pains to say everything warm and friendly ... but we all know Her Majesty the Queen and rest of the family have been devastated by all this," she wrote.

"Harry and Meghan have a very good deal but not what Meghan outlined on their website. They don't get to represent the Queen. Or 'collaborate.' They're out."

Meanwhile, Harry's stepmother, the Duchess of Cornwall, was recently asked if she'll miss the couple.

"Hmm, course," she replied, with what some are interpreting as an unconvincing facial expression.

Nonetheless, Prince Charles and Markle have reportedly maintained a close relationship since he walked her down the aisle at her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.

prince charles meghan

Foto: Prince Charles and Markle at her wedding.sourceDominic Lipinski/ - WPA Pool/Getty Images

"I know that the Prince of Wales has several times reached out to Meghan," a source told the Evening Standard after the ITV documentary aired.

"They get on and share a love of music too. I know he invited her to a preview of an exhibition at the palace."

Charles has also offered to financially support the couple after they stop using taxpayer funding in the spring, according to The Telegraph.

There's a possibility that the "Fab Four" could work together again - just not in a "royals" capacity

When Markle and Harry departed from William and Middleton's Royal Foundation in 2019, it was unclear what this would mean for their joint projects which came under the management of the charity and the royal family.

As part of the Heads Together initiative, the couples launched Shout, a mental health textline service, back in May.

They spent six months working on the project together in secret before announcing it to the public.

Even though Harry and Markle left the Royal Foundation just one month later, William mentioned the duke and duchess at a charity event for the project in November.

"Catherine and I - and I know we speak for Harry and Meghan as well - couldn't be more proud of what Shout has accomplished," he told the audience.

Harry and Markle will no longer be able to undertake engagements on behalf of the Queen, starting from the spring of 2020.

They are, however, still able to represent their patronages as private citizens, which means they could potentially still work with William and Middleton on Shout and other projects.

Nonetheless, their future involvement in these projects are yet to be announced by Buckingham Palace.

Whether rumors of a rift are true or not, there's no denying the Queen's promise that Harry, Markle, and Archie will "always be much loved members" of the royal family.

While their relationship with William, Middleton, and other royals is something that's bound to be affected by their departure, it's unlikely we'll get any further details until the spring of 2020.