Anxious Meghan Markle is waiting for King Charles III to invite her back as a working royal after Prince Harry’s teary meeting with his father at Buckingham Palace. But palace insiders and critics are dousing cold water on her dreams, labeling them a “delusional fantasy” she will never achieve.

Insiders close to Meghan say she’s “desperate” to be accepted back into the royal fold after taking notice of Harry’s seemingly warming relations with his family during his recent solo appearance.

“Meghan thinks she can prove her worth,” a source previously told PEOPLE of her envisioning herself resuming duties side-by-side with Harry. But the atmosphere in London is unforgiving. “The King has not moved,” a palace aide asserted.

“Meghan’s comeback is off the table—William’s made that clear.” The Prince of Wales’s alleged instruction to ban Meghan from the palace is a chilling factor, fueling rumors that she could be permanently excluded.

Critics never let up, with royal commentators like Piers Morgan pouring scorn on Meghan’s X dreams, which is trending as #MeghanDreams.

“She torched every bridge with her tell-alls and sniping at Diana,” read one post. “There is no need for the monarchy to have her drama.” Backers, though, call foul, saying the royals are engaging in “petty exclusion” and lauding Meghan’s grit.

The outrage comes after Meghan’s recent podcast slam of Diana, which was met with backlash and Harry’s teary trip to his mother’s grave. With Charles and William refusing to budge, Meghan’s royal dreams seem dead.

Does she bite the bullet and challenge him with something bold, or stand in exile forever? As the Sussex drama plays out, the monarchy fractures ever further, and all eyes are on the next explosion.