Royal experts say Meghan Markle will only agree to return to the UK if she meets important residency requirements. This decision is believed to stem from the desire to ensure the security of her small family with her husband – Prince Harry.
In 2018, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had a fairytale wedding. They lived in the UK until 2020 before making the difficult decision to step back from their roles as active royals. The couple moved from their home in Windsor to Montecito, California, to raise their first son, Prince Archie. Since moving to the US, Harry and Meghan have welcomed a new member, Princess Lilibet. The couple rarely return to the UK, except for special occasions. The last time the public saw Meghan was at the Queen’s funeral in 2022. Meanwhile, her husband, Prince Harry, appeared in the UK in May to attend the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games in London.
According to royal expert – author Tom Quinn – shared with The Mirror, Meghan Markle only agreed to return to the UK if there was a private space for the family and security was guaranteed. “Meghan has said that she will only return to the UK if she and Harry have a private place and a security regime that they both feel is necessary. Meghan will never return to the UK and stay with her husband’s relatives,” he said.
The royal expert added that if the couple found a permanent home and resolved security issues, Harry and Meghan would certainly want to bring their children to the UK. “But it would take a lot of diplomatic effort for Archie and Lili to develop a warm and genuine relationship with their cousins George, Charlotte and Louis ,” said Tom Quinn.
Harry had previously won the right to take his case to the Court of Appeal to challenge the High Court’s ruling that the level of protection he and his family received in the UK was reasonable. Specifically, in February 2020, the Duke of Sussex first took legal action when the Royal and Public Figures Protection Executive Committee (Ravec) decided that he would receive a different level of protection than other members of the Royal Family. This decision was made after Harry and Meghan announced their withdrawal from their roles as senior royals, leading to a review of Harry’s security.
However, a ruling from February this year by High Court judge Peter Lane dismissed Harry’s claim. He said the Home Office and Ravec’s decision was well-founded. Following an order from Judge Bean on 23 May 2024, Harry was informed that he could appeal the judgment to the Court of Appeal. It is understood that Harry and Meghan were not entitled to full taxpayer-funded security when they stepped down as senior royals in 2020. Harry disagreed with this decision and took the case to court.