Was Meghan Markle’s Paris Trip a Secret Plan For Royal Comeback? An Expert Thinks So
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are said to be discreetly working together on a plan to mend their strained ties with the royal family. Dubbed ‘Project Thaw,’ the initiative reportedly marks the couple’s attempts to soften public opinion in Britain as well as rebuild family relationships that have been frosty since the two stepped down from their royal duties in 2020. The term was first revealed by journalist Richard Eden in the Daily Mail, who suggests an intentional move to “melt hostility” and signal that reconciliation may no longer be impossible.
The Duchess of Sussex made her first high-profile appearance in Europe since 2023 when she arrived at the Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2026 show to support the label’s new creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli. She arrived in a custom all-white outfit, and later changed into a sleek black cape dress. According to Eden, this high-profile appearance by Markle at Paris Fashion Week was part of a larger effort to reconnect. “What could be better than pictures of her being greeted with kisses by the European fashion pack as well as Vogue supremo Dame Anna Wintour?” Eden noted. So, in his words, her Paris trip was a calculated move to ‘warm up’ both the public as well as the monarchy.
Her husband, on the other hand, has already taken the first steps in this so-called project ‘Thaw.’ In September, he returned to his homeland for some of his charity engagements as well as to meet his father, King Charles, at Clarence House for tea. This was their first meet-up in nearly 19 months. As Eden explained, “‘Project Thaw’ aims to melt that hostility, building on the perceived success of the Duke’s visit to Britain last month.” Insiders believe that Harry’s visit may have helped reopen long-silent lines of dialogue between father and son.
After wrapping up his 4-day U.K. tour, the Duke of Sussex traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine, and shared a train with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. According to the journalist, Cooper “wants him to play a bigger part in public life," detailing that even beyond palace walls, Harry’s standing may be improving. Speaking to The Guardian, the Duke himself said that he hopes to bring his kids and wife back to Britain. This was after his sit-down with his father, and he said, “This week has definitely brought that closer.”
Some sources now also claim that Harry and Markle are all set to make a joint appearance in the U.K. before the end of the year. One insider also joked that the Duchess would arrive “bearing humble pie.” Their representatives are yet to comment on this matter, but the move would definitely mark a major step since stepping down in 2020. So, whether ‘Project Thaw’ will be successful or not, one thing is certain that after years of public rifts, Harry and Markle may finally be testing the waters of peace.