Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (open in new tab) have taken a major step toward making their royal exit permanent.

Daily Mail columnist Richard Eden (open in new tab) revealed Friday that the Sussexes have filed official documents to sever ties with the queen's longtime legal team, Harbottle & Lewis (open in new tab). According to Eden, the move came as a surprise to those involved, as Harry had personally represented Harbottle since he was a teenager and had asked senior partner Gerard Tyrrell to become the director of the Sussex royal charity.

According to royal sources, this development is a major hint that Harry and Meghan (open in new tab) will not be joining the ranks of working royals next year when they look back on a year since their divorce from the Queen.

"It would seem to indicate that they have no intention of coming back," one courtier explained.

"The choice of lawyers was very important to the royal family, and Gerard was valued as a neutral link between the Sussex family and the royal court.

In addition to representing Harry and other members of the royal family, Harbottle & Lewis was initially appointed to work with the Sussexes' new nonprofit, Archwell (open in new tab), but was replaced there as well. Field Fisher, a "rival firm," now handles legal matters for the Sussex nonprofits.

"They wanted to direct their own lawyers, not the lawyers that the royal family also uses. They are on an independent path," a royal source explained to the Daily Mail (open in new tab).

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