Public Backlash Grows as Meghan Markle’s UK Return Plans Face Major Obstacle
Meghan Markle has been dealt a crushing blow as public sentiment in Britain appears to have decisively turned against the idea of her returning to the UK this summer. There have been growing speculations that she will be accompanying her husband, Prince Harry, to Birmingham for an Invictus Games milestone. While rumors of the Duchess of Sussex stepping back onto British soil have made her supporters happy, a stark verdict from the UK’s public suggests that enthusiasm is far from universal.
According to the Express, a recent poll asked whether Markle should visit her husband’s home country along with him this year. It received an overwhelming response. A total of 10,176 readers were not in favor of her return, as compared to just 191 people who were supportive of this idea. Meanwhile, 57 of them said they were unsure. The poll followed reports that Markle could travel with Harry to Birmingham in July to mark the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games, the international sporting event started by the latter in 2014.
Despite the rumors, any potential visit is believed to hinge on the outcome of Prince Harry’s outgoing security review. After losing his 24-hour police protection in 2020 following his stepping back from his royal duties and relocation to the US, the Duke has time and again said that the UK is not safe for his family now. As a result, without improved security arrangements, it is thought to be unlikely that he would bring Markle back with him, even if it is for a high-profile event tied to the Invictus Games.
Apart from safety concerns, experts have warned that a UK return may do little to help Markle’s public standing or commercial appeal. While speaking to The Mirror, PR expert Mayah Riaz had said, “Her commercial power has always been strongest in the US, where the royal association already works as shorthand for global status. American audiences do not need to see her on British soil to be reminded she married into the Royal Family. That story is already baked into her brand. A UK visit would not automatically equal positive brand lift. In fact, I believe it would be high risk, high noise. The UK media landscape is far less forgiving, and any return would be dissected frame by frame. For Meghan, a visit would likely reignite old narratives rather than create new ones. From a PR standpoint, that is rarely a smart trade.”
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams also echoed a similar stance in a separate report by The Mirror. He suggested that the Sussexes, as of recent, have deeply divided needs and priorities.” He stressed, "I can’t see how Harry would fit into the As Ever lifestyle and cookery world, and Meghan has no affection for Britain, so there’s a clear difference there. Harry needs something more substantial in his activities than looking on and waving from behind Meghan.” While pointing to Markle’s low YouGov UK approval rating at 22%, he added the Sussexes are “in love and committed to their marriage,” The expert also added that if Harry was keen on returning to Britain without his wife’s full support, then, “her coming back could be a complete catastrophe, depending on how they managed it.”