Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have exchanged their American lifestyle for a move back to the UK in a stunning reversal, six years following their departure from both Britain and their positions as senior working royals.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the choice to withdraw from their royal responsibilities in 2020 and settle in Montecito, California. Yet fewer than two weeks ago, the royal pair returned to Britain to reestablish it as their base, accompanied by their two young children, Archie and Lilibet.
King Charles and Prince William are believed to have been notified at the same time about Harry and Meghan’s choice, with the couple having settled into a private, non-royal property outside London. This comes as the Sussexes’ UK return has not been the “power move” they thought it would be.
It marks a significant about-face, as after their dramatic exit – labeled Megxit – six years ago, the two expressed their commitment to building a fresh life and securing financial independence.
They pursued a string of prominent interviews, including one with media mogul Oprah Winfrey, where they made multiple accusations concerning their period as working royals.
It is believed the last time the four reunited was at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral (Image: Chris Jackson, Getty Images)
Harry and Meghan also appeared in their own Netflix documentary series, Finding Freedom, while the Duke of Sussex published his memoir, Spare, in which he offered additional assertions about the Royal Family, reports the Daily Star, reports the Express.
Among these was an alleged physical confrontation with his older brother, the Prince of Wales, regarding his relationship with Meghan Markle. Harry alleged William threw him into a dog bowl, though individuals close to the future king have characterized the description as “overblown.”
Relations between the two royal brothers are not believed to have improved following Harry’s return to the UK, and in his book, William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, Mirror royal editor Russell Myers reveals that difficulties began between the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales well before Megxit.
William and Catherine are also believed to be determined to steer clear of the “drama” surrounding Harry’s return, with associates of the Prince and Princess of Wales disclosing that while they “cannot forgive” the Sussexes for their allegations against the royal family during their time in America, they continue to focus on “looking forward to the future.”
Meghan and Harry have returned to the UK (Image: Patrick van Katwijk, Getty Images)
At the point of Harry’s decision to leave the UK, his brother William is believed to have been “saddened” by the decision and was hoping for him to stay, Myers indicates in his book.
However, Myers also points out that the Princess of Wales did not advocate for Prince Harry to remain as a working member of the royal family. He goes on to explain that as an “outsider,” Kate had observed firsthand the deterioration of William and Harry’s relationship.
Myers added, “She had seen Harry and Meghan become ever more bitter at having to follow the rules of a hierarchical and hereditary monarchy, until they felt as if they could follow them no longer. (However,) Catherine had less interest than her husband in trying to persuade Harry to stay in his current role.
“She believed William and Harry’s fundamental differences as the ‘heir and the spare’ had created the inevitability of Harry wanting more from his role than being a bit-part player.”
Despite this, it is believed that Harry and Meghan’s alleged treatment of royal household staff, during their time as working members of the royal family, was responsible for creating one of the most profound divisions between the two couples.
“At first she had thought William and Harry’s squabbles were rooted in immaturity or stubbornness, on both sides, but Harry and Meghan’s attitude towards palace staff, who she and William cared about, set the couples on an entirely different course,” Myers explained.
Both the King and William are reportedly in “complete agreement” that Harry and Meghan cannot maintain a ‘half in, half out’ position within the monarchy, and the Duke of Sussex is not expected to resume his royal duties following his return to the UK.