Prince William and Kate Middleton reportedly intend to maintain their distance from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, even as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have returned to the United Kingdom for an extended stay with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
A friend of William and Middleton told the Daily Mail that the Prince and Princess of Wales will "continue their lives of public service" and "intend to lead by example," regardless of where Harry and Meghan are residing. This approach signifies a continuation of the estrangement between the two brothers and their families, which has persisted for six years since Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties.
The Sussexes reportedly arrived in England last week, traveling privately from California with their two young children. Their return is said to be motivated by a desire to be closer to King Charles III, who is undergoing cancer treatment, and to foster relationships between their children and the extended royal family.
While in the UK, Harry and Meghan are expected to reside in a non-royal property and continue pursuing their business ventures. Their children have already been enrolled in a preparatory school with an annual tuition of $35,000. The couple is reportedly seeking a home in the Cotswolds, a region approximately two hours from William and Kate's residence in Windsor.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have not publicly addressed Harry and Meghan's return. Royal reporter Tom Sykes previously suggested to Page Six that the Sussexes' presence could create "serious risks for the monarchy" and present "additional challenges" for William, given the long-standing rift between the brothers. Another royal insider, Kinsey Schofield, speculated that Harry and Meghan's move might be an attempt to improve their standing within the family before William ascends to the throne, anticipating he might be less accommodating than King Charles III.
The rift between the Sussexes and the Waleses became public following a series of candid interviews and Harry's memoir, "Spare." Meghan also made accusations of racism within the royal family during a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. During a previous visit to the UK over the summer, Harry and Meghan did not meet with William and Kate, though they reunited with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House.