Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Won't Move Back to the UK Despite 'Peace Talks', Claims Source
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have no plans to trade their American dream for royal duty. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who stepped down as senior royals in 2020, have no intention of leaving the California sunshine behind, despite alleged ‘peace talks’ between their aides and those of King Charles. On July 9, reports emerged of a 'secret summit' involving Meredith Maines, the Sussexes’ private secretary, and Tobyn Andreae, the King's communications chief. Despite this ray of hope, a source claims that a potential return to the U.K. isn’t on Harry and Markle's agenda.
Speculation over the Sussexes' potential royal comeback intensified following a meeting between Maines, Andreae, and Liam Maguire, the couple’s U.K. spokesperson. The insider told People magazine, "It was a good first step. It is always better to be talking." However, the source clarified that Markle and Harry are happy raising their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in their sprawling Montecito mansion. The Duke of Sussex is expected to continue visiting the U.K. to support his charitable causes and patronages. He has also spoken openly about his fear of returning with his family to his homeland after being stripped of state-funded security.
In his BBC interview, Harry candidly spoke about his disappointment upon his court battle over taxpayer-funded security. Speaking about his paranoia, he said, "I can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point." He added, "I miss parts of the U.K., of course I do. I think that it’s quite sad that I won’t be able to show my children my homeland." As per ABC News, in an interview at the NewYork Times DealBook Summit, the Duke revealed that he was 'grateful' to be raising Archie and Lilibet in the U.S. He dished, "I very much enjoy living here and bringing up my kids here. It's a part of my life that I never thought I was gonna live."
With regards to the 'peace talks' between their aides, details of the 'secret summit' were first leaked to the Daily Mail with a source saying, "There's a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in years... There were things both sides wanted to talk about." Maines, Andreae, and Maguire opted for a table on an external terrace visible from Green Park in public, where their photos were taken and leaked. The insider also claimed that the discussion was the 'first step towards reconciliation' between Harry and Charles.
Despite the Sussexes and the King's best efforts to mend their strained relations, a report by The Telegraph alleged that the 'peace talks' did more harm than good and led to further discord. The report stated that Markle and Harry are frustrated after photos of the meeting were leaked to the Daily Mail. They strongly deny being behind such an invasion of privacy, which included details about the timing and topics of conversation. Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the matter.