Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent return to the United Kingdom has been described as "astonishing" because the family managed to remain completely out of the public eye until they departed for the United States on Tuesday, July 14. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, spent several days in the country without a single photograph or sighting by the media.
How the Secret Visit Unfolded
Harry arrived in the UK on July 6, while Meghan and their children joined him later on Thursday evening. Initially, the family had planned to travel together, but after Harry's request for taxpayer-funded security was denied, it was decided that Meghan and the children would not accompany him. However, just days later, it emerged that they had traveled separately, reportedly after a holiday elsewhere in Europe.
Speaking on ITV News' Talking Royals podcast, broadcaster and journalist Charlene White noted: "Not a single person saw the family enter Highgrove [House], nobody saw them leave Highgrove [House] and nobody saw where they went next because they didn't actually leave the country until Tuesday."
Royal Editors React
Royal editor Chris Ship responded on the same podcast: "This is true. You raise a very valid point so, not a lot of people know this, but Harry and Meghan were in the country until Tuesday evening... It's not necessarily the TV cameras that catch them, it's the newspapers who have probably paid hundreds of cameras, or those who are freelance... Not a single shot." White called this "quite astonishing."
Archie and Lilibet Meet the King
An insider told Women's Day that Archie, now seven, and Lilibet, five, were "totally awestruck" when they met King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House. The source said: "Apparently Archie and Lilibet were totally awestruck by everything they witnessed and it has really opened the door for Harry to tell them more about their heritage and what it means to be a part of the monarchy."
The King had last seen his two youngest grandchildren in June 2022 during the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Queen Camilla was also present for the father-son meeting on July 10, according to reports.
Prior to the Visit
Before the trip, it was reported that Archie and Lilibet had "no concept" of the significance of their royal relatives' status. The family's ability to stay hidden throughout the visit has been widely noted as a remarkable achievement given the intense media scrutiny surrounding the royal family.
