Jenna Bush Hager has voiced her skepticism regarding Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's reported return to the United Kingdom for an extended period, six years after they stepped back from royal duties. On Thursday's episode of "Today with Jenna & Sheinelle," Hager remarked that the couple's initial exit "lit a match" and questioned the decision to return.
"It’s a lesson for everybody. When you leave something and say you’re never going back… [don’t] light a match," Hager said, implying that their dramatic departure and subsequent return to Britain could set a precedent.
Her co-host, Sheinelle Jones, recalled the couple's 2020 announcement of their move to California, stating, "We’re out. Hello, US." Hager added that the couple "sort of threw whatever at the institutions that exist in the UK" and suggested it would be difficult to reconcile those actions with a return.
The discussion followed Page Six's confirmation that Markle and Prince Harry are expected to return to the UK at the end of the month for an "extended period" and intend to enroll their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, in a school there. A source indicated that King Charles III was informed of the impending move.
According to an insider, King Charles is the impetus behind their return and "looks forward" to spending more time with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. However, the source stressed that the monarch has made it clear their status as private citizens and "non-working members" of the royal family will remain unchanged.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their decision to step back from their roles as "senior" royals in January 2020, subsequently relocating to Montecito, California. This period saw the couple engage in public discussions about their experiences, including a widely publicized interview with Oprah Winfrey where Markle shared concerns from within the royal family about Prince Archie's potential skin tone at birth. Prince William publicly refuted claims of racism within the institution at the time.
The relationship between Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William, has been reportedly strained since the "Megxit" announcement. Harry's 2023 memoir, "Spare," further detailed accusations of a physical altercation with his brother. Despite a recent reunion with King Charles in July, reports indicated that Prince Harry and Meghan had no contact with Prince William or Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, during that visit, with their relationship described as "so broken."