Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (open in new tab) have not returned to the UK since their last engagement (open in new tab) as senior working royals last spring. After leaving the royal family, the Sussex family moved to Meghan's home state of California (open in new tab) to begin their next chapter, but due to travel restrictions related to the coronavirus outbreak, they have not been able to visit other royal family members since the Great Migration.

Like many who have been separated from loved ones for extended periods of time due to the pandemic, Harry and Meghan (opens in new tab) planned trips this year to visit family on Harry's side, the Queen's annual birthday celebration (opens in new tab) and Prince Philip's 100th birthday (opens in new tab), and reportedly hopes to attend several major royal events scheduled (at least tentatively, given the ongoing pandemic) for 2021.

But when the Sussexes are able to return across the pond, royal experts say their first trip may not be entirely perfect. Specifically, Harry and Meghan's first face-to-face meeting with Prince William and Kate Middleton (open in new tab) may be a bit, well, awkward.

"I think it's going to be very awkward when they meet," says royal expert Phil Dampier, author of "Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan In Their Own Words" (opens in new tab), in the Express (opens in new tab), explained. 'From what I've heard, the rift isn't looking much better at the moment.'

Publicly, however, Dampier is hoping to put the brothers' feud behind them for one big event planned for 2021: the unveiling of a statue of their late mother, Princess Diana (opens in new tab).

"I think they will be united in the unveiling of the statue of Princess Diana, and I think they will be united in the birthday celebration, but I think there will be a lot of tension backstage," he said.

But hopefully any awkwardness will soon be over and the Fab Four can put their differences behind them and move on to the next chapter of happiness.