Prince William was reportedly taken by surprise by his brother Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to return to the United Kingdom with their children for an extended period this autumn. Several royal experts told Fox News Digital that the Prince and Princess of Wales are concerned about the implications of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's extended stay, especially as their children, Archie and Lilibet, are slated to begin school in the UK in September.
"Prince William was blindsided," said Kinsey Schofield, host of YouTube’s "Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered." She added, "He had found Harry’s recent eagerness to publicly signal that he wanted to spend more time in Britain unusual, but that is very different from anticipating a full return. William now has to navigate a situation he did not create, did not ask for and, given the state of their relationship, almost certainly would not have chosen."
A spokesperson for the Sussexes stated, "On the heels of a wonderful trip with family and friends this summer, Harry and Meghan have decided to spend an extended period in the U.K. this autumn. They are excited to have their children spend more time in the country that’s such an important part of their family’s story." The spokesperson confirmed that the couple's businesses will remain based in the U.S. and they will retain their California home.
British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that the Waleses are "feeling uneasy" about facing another chapter of what she described as the "endless Sussex soap opera." Chard explained, "It’s about broken trust. Prince William is said to feel that Harry and Meghan have spent years attacking the institution, then monetizing their grievances through a very lucrative media operation. From his view, it’s an ongoing campaign for maximum impact and self-gain. He’s not going to fuel it, and he’s not going to endorse behavior he sees as damaging."
Prince William and Princess Catherine are currently at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, visiting King Charles. Royal broadcaster Neil Sean informed Fox News Digital that Harry and Meghan have not yet been invited to visit the King privately while he is on holiday, and this is unlikely to occur while William is present. Sean stated that William "has no desire to connect on any level with his younger brother and simply has no time for [Meghan]."
The Daily Mail reported that the King and Prince William held a "Sussex Summit" following the announcement. According to a source cited by the outlet, the Prince and Princess of Wales "have no interest in engaging with anything Harry and Meghan do or say."
Royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that "things are projected to be tense at Balmoral." She added, "Princess Catherine is particularly guarded given how deeply hurt she was by both of them. Both she and Prince William are very determined to maintain their own family stability and remain focused on duty with their royal roles paramount."
Several royal experts have previously indicated that William and Harry have not been on speaking terms since at least 2022. Schofield noted, "My sources have described genuine concern within the Wales camp. I don’t think Prince William and Princess Catherine are sitting at Balmoral panicking about Harry and Meghan returning, but they are understandably apprehensive about what their return could bring. The last several years have taught them that private family tensions have a habit of becoming very public."
Schofield elaborated that the concern extends beyond proximity. "It’s the unpredictability that comes with the Sussexes. There have been interviews, books, documentaries and very personal allegations about members of the royal family. ... My sources tell me the Wales camp has not forgotten the hostility directed at them after some of Harry and Meghan’s previous public accusations."
Schofield also reported that Kate is unsettled by the news. "My sources tell me that Catherine does not want to revisit that chapter of her life," Schofield explained. "She has endured very personal allegations, an enormous amount of public scrutiny and a difficult few years. My understanding has always been that her priority is Prince William, their children and the future."
She further stated, "Meghan returning to Britain doesn’t mean Catherine suddenly has an obligation to reopen a relationship that has caused considerable hurt. Catherine can wish Harry and Meghan well without wanting them back inside her private life. ... The idea of resurrecting the ‘Fab Four’ is fantasy. Too much has happened, and too much has been lost."
The Sussexes are expected to reside in a private, non-royal residence outside London and will not resume their royal duties, which they relinquished in 2020. The couple's return to the UK occurs while King Charles continues treatment for cancer, diagnosed in 2024. Harry has previously expressed a desire for his children to know their grandfather better.
Last month, the King met with Harry, Meghan, and their children at Highgrove House. Vanity Fair royal correspondent Katie Nicholl reported at the time that, according to sources, "not even the Prince and Princess of Wales were made aware that the meeting was taking place."
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams commented on the situation, suggesting the Sussexes "played a blinder with the king welcoming them, having not told him last month of a plan they have had for ages as their children will soon be in school." Fitzwilliams added, "Since the brothers haven’t spoken in years, the imminent arrival of the Sussexes places William and Catherine in a pressured and difficult situation. William is reportedly furious. But what is essential is that the king accepts that the Waleses and their children are the future of the monarchy."
Schofield expressed doubt about a reconciliation between the brothers in the near future. "Geography cannot repair a relationship where trust has been so badly damaged," she said. "Harry’s return could make that estrangement more obvious because people will inevitably ask why two brothers living in the same country still aren’t seeing one another. ... William and Catherine could suddenly find themselves under public pressure to perform a reconciliation that probably doesn’t exist behind closed doors."
She concluded, "William may have reached the conclusion that distance is healthier than reconciliation, and he is entitled to make that decision. The realistic goal at this stage probably isn’t friendship [with Harry]. I would argue it’s peaceful coexistence for the sake of their father. ... Harry and Meghan moving back to Britain creates proximity, not reconciliation. They can buy a house near London. They cannot buy back trust."