The Queen tells Harry he will 'always be welcome back during four-hour chat'

Harry and Meghan are expected to spend the bulk of their time in North America. (Image: Getty Images)

The Queen has reportedly told Prince Harry that he and Meghan would be welcomed back into the royal fold in the future - but only if they don't 'cash-in' on their status.

Harry, 35, reportedly held a four-hour meeting with the monarch at Windsor Castle in an effort to clear the air before he quits royal duties at the end of the month.

During the heart-to-heart on Sunday, The Sun says the 93-year-old monarch reportedly told her grandson: "You are much loved and will always be welcomed back."

The Duke of Sussex had walked the almost two miles from his Frogmore Cottage home and shared a light lunch of poached salmon, salad and tea with his grandmother.

An aide said it was the ideal time to chat before Harry jets back to Canada with Meghan to be reunited with baby Archie.

The insider said: "The Queen had a lot to talk to Harry about and this was the ideal time for them to both say their piece."

Following a "stressful" few weeks, it was the first time Harry and the Queen had spoken since the couple's bombshell announcement that they were quitting royal duties.

The source said the Queen was "very upset" that Harry and Meghan were quitting and would ideally like to see more of nine-month-old Archie, as would the rest of the royals.

She used the opportunity to stress that any new arrangement could only work if the couple "do not exploit their royal status and try to 'cash in'."

Harry was said to have been "deep in thought" throughout the afternoon, with no one else witnessing the private chat.

Harry and Meghan have been told they cannot use their Sussex Royal branding when they set up their new life, but in a barbed statement, they said there was no legal restriction on doing this overseas.

Meghan will jet into the UK this week to carry out her final royal duties before they depart for North America and life as private citizens.

However, Archie is not likely to join his parents and instead will be looked after in Canada by a nanny and Meghan’s best friend Jessica Mulroney.

The cost of their security - an estimated £20million per year - could still be picked up by the British taxpayer with Canada set to stop paying at the end of March.

But Princess Diana's former bodyguard Ken Wharfe this week said the Queen should pay to protect them - saying Archie is at "real risk" of being kidnapped.

He said the little royal is "probably safer staying in Canada" and that it would be a disaster if the Sussexes lose their Scotland Yard officers and "go private".

“It wouldn’t be safe and they need protection more than ever," continued Mr Wharfe, adding perhaps the Queen or Charles could "stump up some or all of the cost of protection and give it back to the taxpayer".

Harry and Meghan's last duty as senior royals will be at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey next week alongside the Queen, Charles, Camilla, William and Kate.

It is understood William and Harry no longer seeing eye to eye had initially paved the way for the Sussexes' plans to depart the Firm.

Harry's aides are adamant he will regularly return to the UK, including the London Marathon next month as the event's patron, while he will be joined by Meghan for the Invictus Games in May.

However, an insider said they are likely to spend the majority of their time in North America, which had led the Queen to call for the meeting with Harry to make her feelings known.

Buckingham Palace told Mirror Online they did not wish to comment.