Commentators Richard Eden and Sarah Vine have raised concerns about the potential impact of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's imminent return to the United Kingdom, suggesting King Charles III must take decisive action.
According to reports, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to relocate back to Britain, with their children, Archie and Lilibet, reportedly enrolled in U.K. schools for the upcoming academic term. King Charles was reportedly informed of his son's intentions only recently, despite having hosted the couple at his Highgrove residence last month. While their status as non-working royals is expected to remain unchanged, analysts fear their presence could create complications.
Eden, the Diary Editor, proposed that the King should present Harry and Meghan with an ultimatum: either publicly apologize for their past criticisms of the Royal family and cease their commercial activities, or face the revocation of their royal titles. Eden warned that failure to act could lead to the couple establishing a "rival court" that undermines Prince William and Catherine, potentially jeopardizing "the future of the monarchy."
"The King needs to say to Harry and Meghan, if you want to rejoin the Royal family as working royals, you give up your money making and you apologise publicly to the members of the Royal family you have insulted. Then you can come back," Eden stated. "Or, he needs to strip them of their royal titles. You're no longer Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Your children are not prince and princess. You're back in Britain as private individuals and everyone knows that. He has to be firm, or the future of the monarchy is at stake."
Columnist Sarah Vine echoed these sentiments, describing the move as potentially a "land grab" by Harry as he seeks to reassert his connections to the Royal family following perceived setbacks in the United States. Vine characterized Harry as a "disruptor" who may intentionally challenge the Crown.
"The King is in a difficult position," Vine commented. "He's not a terribly well man and you know, we all wish him a long and healthy life. But, if the worst should happen and Harry and Meghan were still in America, I think it would have been much harder for them to return."
Vine suggested that Harry's return might be motivated by a desire to secure his position during a potential future change in leadership within the Royal family, calling it a "cynical move." She expressed concern that the public might perceive Harry and Meghan as working royals, potentially diverting credit away from the established Royal family. "People will think they are working royals, and the credit will go to them - not to the Royal family. That's what I mean about an alternative court. It feels like a land grab."
Concerns were also raised about potential clashes between any public engagements undertaken by the Sussexes and official royal events, referencing past instances. Vine noted that the official court circular is carefully managed, and individuals operating independently or "going rogue" could create difficulties. She described Harry's actions, such as the timing of this announcement, as characteristic of someone who "likes to pull the rug out from under people's feet" and "styles himself as a disruptor."