Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are returning to the UK, but not every senior royal is expected to welcome them warmly. According to an opinion piece by Chris Riches, three powerful royals—Prince William, Catherine, and Queen Camilla—could make the move feel like exile rather than a safe return.
Commercial Reality and Legal Pressures
Riches writes that US observers have noted the Sussexes may be facing commercial challenges in America, with some Hollywood executives and TV viewers tiring of them. In a country experiencing a cost of living crisis and national debt doubling in a decade, a millionaire royal couple complaining about their life of privilege and daddy issues may alienate many Americans.
Meghan has also reportedly burned through influential media contacts, including a recent spat with US lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, 85. She has also fallen out with Vogue fashion magazine supremo Dame Anna Wintour after siding with then Vogue UK editor Edward Enninful, who lost his power play and stepped down in 2024.
In July, a UK return looked more likely when an ally of Prince Harry admitted there is "a feeling that the American dream might not be all that it was cracked up to be," adding: "He has started to feel a bit unwelcome in America."
Additionally, a recent High Court battle Harry lost has left him facing a legal bill that could potentially reach millions of pounds, making a return to Britain a practical decision.
Royal Tensions and the 'Spare' Memoir
Harry and Meghan were once part of the 'Fab Four' with Prince William and Princess Catherine, offering an exciting future for the Royal Family before Megxit. However, private disagreements became public when Harry released his 2023 memoir Spare.
In one passage, Harry claimed that William assaulted him during an argument over Meghan in 2019. Harry wrote: "It all happened so fast. So very fast. He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor."
Promoting the book on TV, Harry said he hoped he and William could "find peace," while reportedly earning over £20 million in book sales. Catherine was also criticized after Harry accused her of upsetting Meghan before their wedding. Harry also accused William and Catherine of being complicit in his decision to wear a Nazi outfit at a fancy dress party.
Queen Camilla and the 'Wicked Stepmother' Label
Queen Camilla is the third royal who will not be welcoming the Sussexes, according to Riches. In Spare, Harry used the phrase 'wicked stepmother' when discussing Camilla, knowing the label would stick. He also accused her of sacrificing him on her PR altar, suggesting she briefed the media against him to rehabilitate her own image.
Harry cited one instance when Camilla allegedly leaked one of her early conversations with William. A newspaper later revealed it was in fact Camilla's former assistant who leaked it, and she was then let go. Appearing on CBS's 60 Minutes in January 2023, Harry said of Camilla: "She was the villain."
As Harry and Meghan prepare to return to Britain, Riches concludes that several royals will likely hope the housewarming invite simply gets 'lost' in the post.
