Prince Harry’s UK Return Could Last ‘12 Months,’ Royal Expert Suggests
EXCLUSIVE: Royal experts have predicted The Duchess of Sussex could have to stay in the UK for up to a year
Prince Harry could be returning to the UK for a year, according to sources.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were revealed to be making a comeback to Harry’s home country “within days,” as insiders close to the couple revealed their children Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, have already been enrolled in local schools. News also emerged that Meghan, 45, is set to return to her acting roots with a huge new role for an up-coming project. She’s reportedly in talks for a role in Guy Ritchie’s hit Netflix comedy-drama, The Gentleman.
Despite moving from their previous home in Montecito, California, the amount of time the couple intend to stay in Great Britain has not yet been revealed. Instead, sources have said they will be in the country for an "extended period" of time. It is also unknown where the couple will be based, although it has been widely predicted the Sussexes will not be residing in a royal residence.
Now, Royal expert Bronte Coy has suggested that the pair have been planning this move for some time, as Prince Harry has been wanting to ‘reconnect’ with the UK. She also claims he ‘toyed’ with the idea of moving his wife and children overseas for a year to do so.
Speaking exclusively to The Royal Observer, she stated: “There was clearly a push that Harry was trying to reconnect more with the UK, he has said it himself. But there have also just been massive markers all the way along the way.
The broadcaster continued: “I think that now with this [acting] part of the story, it all makes so much more sense … What my understanding from speaking to people close to Harry is that he's been toying with the idea of, as a lot of people do, you think about doing 12 months overseas, doing a 12 month gap year overseas, or as an adult and maybe getting your kids to see your homeland-that all kind of makes sense.”
She added: “But there obviously wasn't a specific timeline on when that would happen … But now knowing what we know, clearly that this role has clearly up that's really excited her, and that is significant enough for them to make the move. It's clear that they've said right now's the time.”
The model going forward
As part of their return, sources close to the couple have appeared to confirm that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not be returning to royal duties. Instead sources tell me that the duo will still actively partake in commercial ventures, which will in part fund their charitable and philanthropic endeavours. Bronte Coy points out, this mix was on show during the couple's four-day tour of Australia in April 2026. "I think that you are right to say that was a bit of a dummy run.
"That's the model that they were trialing, and and in that regard, they felt it was a really big success," she exclusively told The Royal Observer. "When Harry met with Invictus members of the Invictus community and met with veterans, those people in those communities with these areas of work that they that Harry's been in for decades, they love him. He loves them. It was an incredibly warm and inviting atmosphere."
She continued: "There's no plan for them to return as working royals, or or even in any capacity this half in, half out model. I don't think I don't think anyone, including the Palace, is is expecting or thinks that that would be something that would work out ... we have seen steps along the way of what we could now be looking at into the future as the sort of Sussex model."
Adding: "They're sort of in a royal no man's land. There's not really anyone that you can compare it to or a blueprint they can follow. So they're trying to work it out themselves, and they've made huge mistakes along the way. But also, they're trying to work it out."
