EXCLUSIVE: A royal oversight! Meghan Markle officially misses her chance to become a Brit after Megxit derailed the mandatory three year requirement of living in UK before applying for citizenship

Meghan Markle has officially missed her chance to become a UK citizen... for now, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The Duchess of Sussex had fully intended to become a Brit after marrying Prince Harry in May 2018 in a spectacular wedding at Windsor Castle.

She was required to live in the UK for a minimum of three years before applying for citizenship and legally qualifying for a British passport.

And at the time Kensington Palace confirmed the former Suits actress intended to apply.

However, her and Harry's shock Megxit announcement in January 2020 saw the plans hit the skids.

Under strict Home Office rules the Duchess, who first moved to London on November 21, 2017, could have begun her citizenship application three years later on November 21, 2020.

But the jet-setting Duchess was also required to limit the total number of days she spent outside of the UK in that time to less than 270 - something she failed to do.

Now any future application would be delayed and would involve a move back to the UK.

Meghan Markle has officially missed her chance to become a UK citizen... for now, DailyMail.com can reveal. However, her and Harry's shock Megxit announcement in January 2020 saw the plans hit the skids

Prince Harry's communications secretary, Jason Knauf, told the BBC in December that year that Meghan would be 'compliant with immigration requirements at all times'. 'I can also say she intends to become a UK citizen and will go through the process of that, which some of you may know takes a number of years,' he added

In 2017 Meghan's royal handlers were adamant that she apply for citizenship and adhere to normal processing time, rather than being fast tracked by the Home Office.

Prince Harry's communications secretary, Jason Knauf, told the BBC in December that year that Meghan would be 'compliant with immigration requirements at all times'.

'I can also say she intends to become a UK citizen and will go through the process of that, which some of you may know takes a number of years,' he added.

Home Office guidelines from the AN Naturalisation Booklet detail that Meghan is legally allowed to become a citizen because of her marriage to Prince Harry.

The booklet states: 'The legal requirements you should meet before you apply are that you: are aged 18 or over when you apply, are married to or the civil partner of a British citizen on the date of application, have lived in the UK for a minimum of 3 years before you apply: are of sound mind, so that you understand the step you are taking, can communicate in English (or Welsh or Scottish Gaelic) to an acceptable degree, have sufficient knowledge about life in the UK and are of good character.'

However, that process collapsed when the Sussexes' shocked the world and executed Megxit.

They decided to step back from royal duties and move to Canada, before settling permanently in a $14 million mansion in Santa Barbara, California seeking 'privacy'.

However, that process collapsed when the Sussexes' shocked the world and executed Megxit. They decided to step back from royal duties and move to Canada, before settling permanently in a $14 million mansion in Santa Barbara, California seeking 'privacy' 

The booklet warns: 'Most applications that fail do so because applicants have applied even though they cannot satisfy the residence requirement to be present in the UK at the beginning of the residential qualifying period.

'You must have been physically present in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands on the day 3 years before the application is received by the Home Office. 

'You must not have had more than 270 days outside the UK in the 3-year period before making the application.

'You must not have had more than 90 days outside the UK in the 12-month period before making the application.'

Meghan did achieve 'permanent resident status' in the UK before marrying the Prince in May 2018.

And had she followed the rules the Duchess would have been eligible in November to send in her naturalization paperwork to the UK government's Liverpool based processing center at a cost of £1,643 ($2212).

Once greenlit, she would have to do a 45 minute, 24 question citizen test at a cost of £50 ($67).

But with her and 36-year-old Harry's rift with the royal family and the British public seemingly deepening by the day, the prospect seems highly unlikely

The booklet explains: 'You will be agreeing to accept the responsibilities which go with citizenship and to respect the laws, values and traditions of the UK. It is important that you are able to communicate with the wider community and are equipped to play a part in community life.'

That process usually takes two months.

After that Meghan would receive a Certificate of Citizenship which would allow her to apply for a UK passport.

Whether Los Angeles born Meghan, 39, will ever become a dual-American/British citizen is anyone's guess.

But with her and 36-year-old Harry's rift with the royal family and the British public seemingly deepening by the day, the prospect seems highly unlikely.