Royal Family Unclear on Harry and Meghan's Motives, Experts Say

Senior members of the royal family remain uncertain about the motives behind Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's return to the United Kingdom, with frustration persisting among palace insiders, according to reports. A palace source told People that "The royal family still don’t know what their motives are," weeks after Harry and Markle officially relocated overseas.

Royal commentators are divided over the couple's presence in the UK. Some suggest the palace is undermining Harry and Meghan, while others believe the intervention was necessary to reinforce their status as private citizens no longer resuming a "half-in, half-out" royal role. King Charles III, through the Lord Chamberlain, issued a letter shortly after the couple announced their plans to move back to the UK, classifying them as non-working royals.

Royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner stated that the palace's actions undermine Harry and Meghan's return by preventing them from organizing royal-style events. "Harry and Meghan claim to want a private family life in Britain with access to Harry’s roots, while they repeatedly invade their own privacy," said Hilary Fordwich, a British royal expert. "They are retaining their independent charitable and commercial careers while also posturing themselves as working royals which is directly thwarting the Sandringham agreement to refrain from monetizing their titles. The Palace’s public intervention demonstrates the concerns surrounding their posturing with official royal type activities."

Turner described the letter from the King as unnecessary and a "cowardly act by those behind the letter," suggesting that Prince William might view their return as a distraction from his own popularity. "William may see the return as a distraction from his popularity and, as it seems already Harry has received some favorable accolades from people he is meeting at events -- this could be an annoyance to William’s ego," Turner commented.

Fordwich characterized the King's public clarification as a reaffirmation of the 2020 agreement regarding the Sussexes' departure for the US. "The Lord Chamberlain’s letter not only stated that the Sussexes were actually not undertaking royal engagements, it reiterated no change in their status, clarified that they are no longer working royals and that their HRH styles remain in abeyance," she noted. Fordwich added that the "unusually explicit institutional language clearly indicated the degree of royal frustration regarding the Sussexes," aiming to mitigate ambiguity and blurred roles that could damage the royal brand, particularly concerning commercial ventures.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams expressed skepticism about Harry and Meghan securing a "half in, half out" role. "They won't be working members of the royal family. Harry is, of course, fifth in line the throne still. And there's no question that I think they would like the option," Fitzwilliams said. He noted their unexpected arrival in the UK and the lack of clarity regarding their primary reason for being there, including their children's enrollment in a new school.

Fitzwilliams also touched upon the security issue, suggesting that any provision of VIP automatic security might necessitate Harry and Meghan undertaking certain activities to justify it. He indicated that Prince William is strongly opposed to any return to royal duties, citing a deep rift and feelings of betrayal. "We know Prince William is adamantly opposed to them doing anything, and indeed there's a deep, deep rift there. He believes he's been betrayed. And when you look at the situation since Megxit, you can see why they're mistrusted," Fitzwilliams stated.