Meghan Markle is contemplating a return to charitable endeavors as she and Prince Harry settle back into life in Britain, though their primary concern remains the security arrangements for their children's school journeys.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who relocated from their California home more than ten days ago, are reportedly still adjusting to their new environment. Sources close to Meghan indicate she is eager to resume involvement with causes she is passionate about, including Smart Works, a charity that assists unemployed women in their job searches. She previously held four royal patronages, but Smart Works was the only one she continued to support after stepping back from official royal duties.
Meghan has expressed a desire to "pick up with a lot of people" and is exploring ways to increase her involvement with existing and new charitable initiatives. This potential return to public-facing charity work could be accompanied by a carefully considered media strategy, as the couple seeks to establish a framework for coverage following their withdrawal from the royal rota system in 2020.
Prince Harry is also slated to participate in several engagements this month, supporting organizations and patronages such as the WellChild Awards, the Invictus Games, and Imperial College’s Centre for Blast Injury Studies. In 2019, Meghan collaborated with fashion retailers to launch the Smartset capsule collection, benefiting Smart Works, describing it at the time as the "kind of work that I've been doing for a really long time."
Despite the couple's reported excitement about being back in the UK, the school run presents a significant security challenge. According to former protection officers, the predictability of school commutes makes them particularly vulnerable. Prince Harry has reportedly appealed to Shabana Mahmood for a decision regarding taxpayer-funded security for his family.
A review of Harry's security arrangements was initiated by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) in late July, but it is understood that the board may not have been aware of his intention to permanently return to the UK. Harry formally notified the Home Secretary of the family's return in mid-August and is awaiting the outcome of the risk management board's conclusions. If the Home Office agrees to fund his security, the estimated costs, which were initially over £5 million for protection during their UK visits, could increase substantially.
This situation follows a prolonged dispute over Harry's eligibility for taxpayer-funded security as a non-working member of the Royal Family, after his legal challenge against the government was unsuccessful. The Court of Appeal had previously ruled that a grievance did not constitute a valid legal argument. He had blamed an "establishment stitch-up" after losing that case but continued to pursue a review.
Meanwhile, speculation persists regarding Meghan's potential return to acting. Reports have surfaced about a possible role in the upcoming third series of Netflix's 'The Gentlemen,' a drama spin-off from Guy Ritchie's 2019 film. When questioned about these rumors, Netflix's UK head of scripted series, Manda Levin, offered a non-committal response, stating, "All bets are off."