I think the 12 month review period has been put in place to protect the BRF. It’s not for Harry and Meghan’s benefit and I don’t see it as the door being left open for a partial return to the institutional fold.
The couple’s behaviour had surely been problematic from the point of view of The Royal Family even before Harry and Meghan’s surprise online announcement to everyone, (including The Queen), about how things were going to be going forward. With that announcement, however, they took things to a new level and showed everyone what they were willing to do to get their own way. I’m sure Harry’s family loves him dearly and wants the best for him and his family, especially now that there’s a baby involved, but as professional royals, he and Meghan showed themselves to be completely untrustworthy.
If that untrustworthiness was due to the emotional volatility that sometimes accompanies the sort of mental illness Harry has alluded to in the past then, as one person to another, he has my sincere sympathy and I hope this new set up somehow provides him with a more positive life going forward. But it was becoming very obvious that he and Meghan couldn’t continue the way they were going and remain effective working royals.
Right now it seems that Harry and the BRF and their advisors have come to a gentlemen’s agreement that will only work if everyone adheres to it in both letter and in spirit. I think the next 12 months are meant to be Harry and Meghan’s opportunity to demonstrate their willingness to hold up their end of the bargain so that more formal, and likely more stringent, measures don’t need to be put in place.
You nailed it! This is my view as well!