Prince Harry and Meghan Markle "are not the same people who left" the United Kingdom for America six years ago and now "relate to Britain differently," according to royal reporter Omid Scobie.
Scobie, who was once described as the couple's "cheerleader," wrote on his new Substack newsletter, 'Off Script,' that he was informed in 2023 that California was never intended to be the Sussexes' sole base. He stated that their children's education and "evolving priorities" would influence their future living arrangements.
"It was the right home for that chapter of their lives, but their children's education and evolving priorities would shape what came next – including where they chose to live, and for how long," Scobie wrote.
Scobie, who relocated to California himself in 2023, reflected on how returning to a place after a period of absence can reshape one's relationship with it. "The place you come from can mean something different in your forties or fifties than it did in your twenties or thirties, after years away and as priorities shift," he noted.
He added that Harry and Meghan, now older and raising two children while building independent careers, have different perspectives on Britain than they did when they stepped down as working royals in 2020. "Harry and Meghan themselves are not the same people who left. They are older, raising two children, building businesses and careers independent of royal life, and relate to Britain differently than they once did."
Scobie suggested that clues indicating the Sussexes' potential move back to the UK have been present for some time. He pointed to a reduction in the size of their U.S. office staff and a restructuring of their Archewell Foundation into Archewell Philanthropies as indicators of planned changes. "If you've been watching the story really closely, the clues have been there all along," Scobie told ABC News in an Instagram clip. "This is a couple that have been slowly and methodically planning some form of move."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex officially stepped down as senior royals in March 2020, establishing a permanent home in California. Reports indicate they are planning an extended stay in the UK, with their children now enrolled in British schools. Meghan is reportedly being considered for a role in the third series of Netflix's "The Gentlemen."
The potential return raises questions about security arrangements and whether taxpayers might be expected to contribute. Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, have not yet commented on the news.