Harry's Team Issues Rare Statement Amid Rumors of Meghan's Royal Return to the UK
The royal rumor mill has been buzzing lately as sources in the Home Office suggested Prince Harry is set to regain his taxpayer-funded security in the UK. This development, along with the 2027 Invictus Games taking place in Birmingham, had media outlets reporting a possible royal reunion. While Harry is said to be keen on mending his fractured relationships, questions about whether Meghan Markle will be joining him on the trip have also arisen. The Duchess was last in the country in 2022 for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, and while Harry has traveled to the UK thereafter, she has allegedly been keen on keeping her distance. Now, the couple’s spokesperson has finally addressed the speculation of a return for the Duchess.
On his Substack, as reported by the Daily Express, royal expert Tom Sykes wrote, “I reported late last night that the Duchess of Sussex was planning a return to the United Kingdom as soon as this summer.” He quoted a source who allegedly told him that the Duchess and her kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will accompany Harry when he travels to the UK for the Games. “They love to do stuff as a family whenever they can, and when they do things philanthropically, they often take the kids along privately,” the source told Sykes, adding, “I can’t see a reason why he’d come over with the kids without her.” Following this, Harry and Markle’s spokesperson allegedly reached out to Sykes, suggesting that such rumors were simply 'pure speculation.'
Markle has so far attended every Invictus Games since she and Harry publicly debuted as a couple in 2017. But with the couple’s tense relationship with the royal family, she may give this one a miss, and royal expert Jennie Bond has backed her up on this decision. Previously, reports suggested that the Duke is allegedly ‘begging’ his wife to return to the UK, a conversation that is said to have caused notable friction in their marriage. Meanwhile, Bond has argued that while Harry will most likely receive a warm reception when he goes back to Britain, the same won’t be the case with Markle.
Writing for i Paper, Bond noted that if she does decide to travel with the Prince, then her visit needs to be carefully ‘staged’ and ‘watched.’ “She might not face the same physical risk, but she’s more likely to trigger a verbal backlash than Harry, who still has a knack for charming the crowd.” The expert then also advised the Duchess to “give the UK a miss,” since she’s “clearly happy at home in California.” Bond suggests that while increased security can open new doors of reconciliation for Harry, Markle still faces significant hostility. Though the Duchess is still said to be contemplating her options, painful memories of her royal life might affect her decision.
Markle is said to be dreading moving back to the UK as she associates the country with “unhappiness, fear, and anxiety.” But if the Prince wins back his security, then she allegedly fears that the “single biggest practical barrier to Harry returning to Britain with his family” would be gone. With the Home Office's review of their security likely to work in their favor, Markle might have to make that decision sooner than anticipated.