The Questions Still Surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Return to the UK
With issues around the length of stay, security issues, location, and Prince William - what is next for the Sussexes?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced that they will be relocating back to the UK for an “extended period” of time.
Sources say Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be flying over from their home in Montecito, California “within days.” Although they won’t be returning to life as working members of the Royal Family, reports suggest they are keen to establish more of a ‘foothold’ in the UK, and they have already enrolled Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, in local schools which start in September.
On the surface, so much has seemed to change for the couple in a short period of time and there is sure to be much conversation around what happens next and what the future for the Sussex clan will look like. But has it really? These are a number of questions that still remain unanswered for us royal watchers and it doesn’t seem like we will get an answer to them anytime soon.
How long will they be in the UK for?
The long and short of it is, we are not entirely sure. Sources close to the couple revealed to a number of publications that they will be staying in Harry’s home country for an “undeterminable” amount of time and it will be for an “extended period”. However, what is certain is that we are talking about a foothold being made in the base for an “extended period” of time.
The very fact that both Archie and Lilibet have been enrolled in schools seems to suggest that they see themselves staying in the country at least for the foreseeable future. It was previously revealed by the Sunday Times only last weekend that Prince Harry was going to make more “regular visits” to the UK. The Duke wanted to focus on his charitable endeavours and also see his “wider family.” However, it has been reported that the couple intend to keep their homes in California and Portugal, so it is very possible the move could still be for a trial period.
Where will they be based?
At this given time, the location of Harry and Meghan’s new UK base has not been revealed. But it is widely thought that the Sussex family will be staying in a non-royal residence outside of London. They previously vacated their former base of Frogmore Cottage in the Windsor Home Park Estate in 2023 after the Sandringham Summit when they stepped away from royal duties. When they were last in the UK over the summer, Prince Harry attended charitable events largely alone as he marked the countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games both inside and outside the capital.
Rather, Meghan and the children managed to enter and exit the country unannounced with no official sightings whatsoever. It was only confirmed Meghan was in the UK when the Palace confirmed the private family tea held by The King and Queen at Highgrove in Gloucestershire. Meghan herself only confirmed she was in the UK when she posted the album of snaps from her vacation on her Instagram profile, which showed scenes of relaxation at Althorp, Princess Diana's childhood home.
The issue of security
Part of the reason why Meghan Markle and the children did not stay in London was partially due to security. As non-working members of the Royal Family, the Sussex squad do not get automatic access to taxpayer funded close protection security. Instead, they come under a bespoke arrangement that was agreed upon at the Sandringham Summit where the arrangements would be decided by RAVEC (Royal and VIP Executive Committee) on a case by case basis.
Prince Harry tried to take this case to the courts, as he offered to fund the costs to pay the Metropolitan Police rather than being a burden on UKL taxpayers. This would include access to classified intelligence and the royal security infrastructure, a request that was previously denied by the Home Office. This was despite the fact that his personal security team cited credible threats against his life. Despite their highly-anticipated move back to Harry's home country, the circumstances around his security arrangements remains unchanged.
The Prince William problem
The brothers have been estranged for a number of years. Prince Harry previously released a number of projects which have been said to have angered his brother. This includes sitting down with Oprah Winfrey for CBS when Harry and Meghan made accusations involving racial comments. They also released their controversial Netflix docuseries titled, Harry and Meghan, and Harry wrote about personal resentments towards his brother in his bombshell memoir, Spare.
Bronte Coy from News.com.au told me: “This issue comes to a head for William. I think the Atlantic Ocean has done a lot of heavy lifting with this rift because it's very easy to avoid him.” Now, the brothers are going to be in far closer proximity to each other as Harry seeks to move back home. Both brothers are also said to be close with the Spencer side of their family, the direct relatives of their late mother Princess Diana. As such, it will be more difficult to avoid each other, particularly as Harry and The King actively move towards a personal reconciliation. The King – although is thought to be feeling much better – is still receiving treatment for his cancer. By his own admission in speeches around the time of his trip to Washington, the King admitted that he does not see a “long term” future for himself left on the planet.
Prince William faces a quandary of sorts. I previously explained that it makes no sense to have Harry and Meghan seen as renegade royals of sorts, nipping at his heels while the Prince and Princess of Wales carry on with their important work. With The King’s health, the long-term future of the monarchy comes into sharp focus, something that William inevitably has to think about. However, it is undeniable that Harry and Meghan have previously caused headaches for the institution that may have affected it’s reputation across the globe. Will William be forced to choose – like many other members of his family before him – to choose duty over his own personal feelings?
