Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s planned return to the UK is raising questions about what their homecoming could mean for the Royal Family, particularly their relationship with Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Six years after leaving royal life and moving to the United States, the Sussexes are preparing to return with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, a decision royal commentators say could reopen old tensions.
The move has also prompted questions about whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to build an independent life outside of the UK has worked as they once envisioned.
Harry and Meghan’s decision to return to Britain has sparked reactions and questions about why they left in the first place. Their 2020 departure was presented as an effort to gain greater freedom, financial independence and distance from the pressures of royal life.
Kinsey Schofield, host of “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered,” argued that their homecoming appears to contradict the message behind their departure.
“There is no way to spin a move back to Britain as anything other than a spectacular defeat for the entire premise of Megxit,” she said, per Fox News Digital.
Schofield further argued that Harry’s return could contradict the independence he once sought from the monarchy.
“Harry set out to demonstrate that the monarchy needed him far more than he needed the monarchy. His return delivers precisely the opposite conclusion,” she said.
Schofield also pointed to the couple’s original ambitions, saying, “Remember what Megxit was supposed to represent. Freedom. Financial independence. Global influence. A dazzling new life without the constraints of the institution.”
She added, “They weren’t forced into exile. They chose this.”
The Sussexes Won’t Resume Their Former Royal Roles
Although Harry and Meghan are heading back to the UK, their return does not mean they will resume the positions they once held within the monarchy.
According to royal expert Hilary Fordwich, there has been no agreement for the couple to return to official duties or adopt a partial role within the institution.
“While Harry and Meghan are returning, they are not regaining official royal roles,” Fordwich told Fox News Digital.
She also stressed that there was no arrangement for a “half-in, half-out” system, meaning the Sussexes are expected to remain outside the working Royal Family despite living closer to it.
That leaves the couple facing a different kind of royal life in Britain, where their presence could bring them back into close proximity with the institution they once stepped away from.
Prince Harry And Meghan’s UK Return Could Mean New Problems For The Royal Family
The Sussexes’ return could place them under renewed public and royal scrutiny. With the couple expected to rebuild their lives in the UK, questions surrounding their privacy, their children and their relationship with other members of the Royal Family could become difficult to avoid.
Former King Charles III butler Grant Harrold described the situation as an unpredictable one, saying, “In many ways, it’s going to be a game of chess. What is Harry’s next move? What is William’s next move? What is the king’s next move?”
Harrold warned that the consequences could be significant if tensions are not carefully managed.
“If it goes wrong, it could be catastrophic for the royal family,” he said, although he also suggested that a carefully handled return could eventually produce a different outcome.
Old Tensions With Prince Williams Might Resurface
Harry and Meghan’s return could also bring their strained relationship with William and Kate back into focus.
Rather than signaling an immediate reconciliation between the brothers, one royal commentator believes their homecoming could make the existing divide more visible.
Harrold said, “I don’t think William and Catherine will be pleased by the news and I don’t think this return signals a warming of relations between the brothers.”
Another commentator, Helena Chard, was similarly doubtful about the possibility of an immediate family reunion, saying, “Unfortunately, reconciliation doesn’t seem to be on the cards.”
The renewed proximity could therefore create an uncomfortable dynamic, particularly as Harry and Meghan adjust to being back on royal turf while remaining outside the official institution.
Prince Harry And Meghan’s Return Could Spark A Battle for The Royal Spotlight
Beyond family tensions, the Sussexes’ return could create another challenge: public attention.
Their return is expected to generate significant interest in Britain, potentially placing their activities alongside those of William and Kate in the media spotlight.
Royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner predicted that the move could overshadow the Prince and Princess of Wales, saying, “This is going to be a massive story in Britain and will overshadow William and Kate and their PR drive, which will make William furious.”
He went further, describing the situation as potentially “a head-on clash between the House of Wales and the House of Sussex on popularity stakes.”
With both couples likely to command considerable attention, Harry and Meghan’s return could create a new contest over the public spotlight, adding another layer to an already existing family rift.
The Prince Harry And Meghan Face Brutal UK Reality As Critics Label Return A ‘Spectacular Defeat’ Of ‘Megxit’ Ambitions first appeared on The Blast