The Duke and Duchess of Sussex could be set to make a public appearance with Prince William and Princess Catherine next year, according to a royal expert, despite the ongoing tensions between the couples.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry returned to the UK in August after six years of living in the US, following their step down from royal duties in early 2020. The couple have since been feuding with the royal couple, who reportedly have no plans to meet with or resolve tensions with the Sussexes.
Previous Joint Appearances
Meghan and Harry were last seen in public with William and Catherine in September 2022 during a walkabout in Windsor, just days after the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The couple made a joint appearance before grieving royal fans, though very little interaction occurred between them.
The couple are not known to have spoken since, with the brothers even said to have avoided one another at a memorial service for their late mother's brother-in-law, Robert Fellowes, in 2024. William was reportedly only notified of his brother and sister-in-law's shock return to the UK days before they arrived.
Expert Predictions
Speaking of a public appearance between the royals, who were previously dubbed the 'fab four', royal expert Jake Ashton said that it would be more likely to take place next year than in the last few months of 2026.
The expert at OLBG said there is a 6/4 chance of the appearance being held next year, which equates to a 40 percent chance. He said: "Could we see the Royal Fab Four back together again? Harry and Meghan's return to Britain has put that question firmly back on the table, but to be honest it's not looking THAT likely."
Public Reception and Possibilities
He added: "The public reception in Nottingham shows there is still an appetite to see the Sussexes out and about - but a warm welcome from the public and a reunion with William and Kate are two very different things."
"At 6/4, our predictions give a joint appearance next year with a 40 percent chance. That's a realistic possibility, although it remains far from certain. The chances of it happening this year however, are a much less optimistic 33.3 percent."
He also added that the likelihood of an appearance could be for a "long-awaited photo opportunity" rather than an actual chance of them rekindling. Jake added: "It might be unlikely to happen this year, but even one photograph of the four together would make front pages around the world. The bigger question would be whether it marked a turning point in their relationship or simply a long-awaited photo op for the press."
Meghan and Harry stepped out for a series of quasi-royal engagements in Nottingham on Thursday, the city where the couple made their first post-engagement appearance in late 2017. As the couple made their way to their first visit of the day, the city's Community Recording Studio (CRS), between 150 and 200 people arrived to warmly welcome them. The local community charity offers various youth development programmes.
The couple then moved into their second visit: the Himmah Hub, a community action group addressing food poverty in Nottingham. The couple finally made their way to Epic Partners in Nottingham, their last stop of the day. The couple are now thought to be living somewhere in the Cotswolds with their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.
