Meghan Markle has returned to Britain with her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, for their first visit to the country in four years. The trio, accompanied by Prince Harry, participated in a private family meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House on Friday afternoon. This visit marks the first time the Duchess of Sussex has been in the U.K. with their children since the family stepped back as senior royals in 2020.
The Sussexes, who now reside in California, were in Europe on vacation before Prince Harry traveled to the U.K. alone on July 6. Meghan and the children were initially expected to join him, but a request for police protection for his family outside royal residences was denied by the U.K. government. This led to reports that Meghan and the children would not accompany Harry, as they would only receive police protection while on royal property.
Prince Harry is in the U.K. to attend events related to the Invictus Games, of which he is the founder. He is expected to remain in the country until July 11. The Sussexes lost their taxpayer-funded security after stepping down as working royals, and Harry's request for the restoration of such protection by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) was denied.
Prior to the trip, Harry's team reportedly explored options for enhanced private security arrangements to ensure his family's safety. Sources indicated that Harry had initially declined an invitation to stay at a royal residence but later accepted. However, a spokesperson for Harry claimed an offer to stay at Buckingham Palace was withdrawn after he had formally accepted it, a claim disputed by palace sources who stated Harry missed a deadline for confirmation.
This visit comes at a time when Harry has expressed a desire for his children to connect with their British heritage and maintain a relationship with King Charles, who is undergoing cancer treatment. In a past interview, Harry spoke of hoping for family reconciliation, noting that he and his father were not speaking due to the ongoing security dispute. He also wrote in his 2023 memoir, "Spare," about his children's first meeting with the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from royal duties in 2020, citing media intrusion and a lack of support from the palace. Their subsequent interviews, documentaries, and Harry's memoir have been widely reported as straining relationships within the royal family. RAVEC determines taxpayer-funded security on a case-by-case basis, with such protection generally provided only to full-time working members of the royal family, according to reports. A Home Office spokesperson confirmed that the government's position on security provision remains unchanged.