Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly planning a return to the United Kingdom within weeks, a move that sources suggest is poised to escalate existing tensions within the royal family. The couple, who have been living in a $15 million mansion in California, are expected to rent a home in the English countryside for their stay, and their children, Archie and Lilibet, have already been enrolled in schools there.
Meghan Markle is reportedly in discussions to join the third season of Guy Ritchie's Netflix series, "The Gentlemen." An industry source indicated that a deal is close to being finalized, suggesting a potential return to acting for the Duchess of Sussex. This development has led some insiders to believe that Markle may have been a driving force behind the move to the UK, rather than simply accompanying Prince Harry.
During a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry mentioned that members of his family had suggested Meghan continue acting due to financial concerns. "She wasn’t going to get security… members of my family were suggesting that she carry on acting because there’s not enough money to pay for her and all this sort of stuff," he stated at the time.
Sources close to the royal family express concern about the Sussexes' return, anticipating that their activities will inevitably draw attention and potentially compete with the public engagements of working royals. Royal biographer Hugo Vickers commented that the couple "will be a distraction with anything they do — even if they don’t intend it to be." He added, "They will be in competition with the working members of the royal family, or at least that’s how it will be perceived and that’s how it will be reported. We’re in for such in a grisly time."
The impending return is seen as particularly challenging for King Charles and Prince William, who reportedly has a strained relationship with his brother and sister-in-law. The proximity of Harry and Meghan to the royal family in the UK is expected to make any distance or perceived slights more apparent, especially during significant family events like Remembrance Sunday or Christmas. Royal protocol dictates that Harry and Meghan, no longer working royals, would not typically be included in such events or appear on the balcony at Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour.
Prince Harry's stated desire to ensure his family's security in the UK, particularly regarding armed protection, remains a point of consideration. Despite this, the couple's relocation is proceeding, with reports indicating they have secured rental accommodation.
Harry's continued commitment to philanthropy and charity work, including his role as patron of the WellChild charity and his involvement with the Invictus Games, could place him in proximity to the public-facing activities of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales. During a July visit to the UK to promote the 2027 Invictus Games, Prince Harry visited Birmingham Children's Hospital, a type of engagement that William and Kate frequently undertake.
The return also comes as King Charles is undergoing cancer treatment, and sources suggest that Harry wishes to spend more time with his father. The Sussexes also aim for their children to connect with their cousins.
Prince Harry has maintained relationships with certain members of his extended family, including Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, and maternal relatives such as his uncle Charles Spencer. He and his family visited Althorp, the Spencer ancestral home, in July, and Harry attended the funeral of Robert Fellowes, the husband of his mother's sister, Lady Jane Fellowes.
Despite the potential for renewed family friction, some hope that shared memories, such as the unveiling of the bronze statue of their mother, Princess Diana, could provide a basis for reconciliation between Prince Harry and Prince William. However, sources suggest William remains "furious" over past events, and Vickers predicts "no reconciliation between William and Harry."