The Duchess of Sussex has accepted a new role as co-host on Junior MasterChef Australia, raising concerns that the job could bring further disruption for Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet during an already turbulent period for the family.
Since returning to the UK in August, Prince Harry and Meghan have faced a series of challenges. Over nine weeks, the couple engaged in briefing wars after taking issue with the King's guidance that they are "private citizens." They also encountered difficulties with their children after realising that the commute to their British schools presented security risks. Earl Spencer's book Swan Song added further complications, and rumours that Meghan might join The Gentlemen sparked backlash.
A Tumultuous Return to the UK
By October, the Sussexes were dealing with the fallout of child abuse allegations made against Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, as well as the revelation that Meghan had been made aware of accusations by the Metropolitan Police in 2019. The couple have only been back in the UK for two months, and the sheer volume of events has been considerable.
Now, with Meghan's new job on Junior MasterChef Australia, questions arise about whether it is the right decision for Archie and Lilibet. The children, aged seven and five, have already experienced significant change. After being raised in the US with close friends and family, the transition to the UK was already a major adjustment.
Impact on Archie and Lilibet
While the children are getting to know King Charles and Queen Camilla, this is still entirely new territory for them. Before the move, they had little interaction with their grandfather, who would have felt like something of a stranger. They were also pulled out of their new schools after a few days and enrolled in different ones due to security concerns.
Meghan's new gig could be seen as a way to seek refuge from the media circus surrounding her father, offering a change of scenery and an opportunity to reboot her television career. However, it might also cause major upheaval for the children. If Meghan takes them to Australia, it could be an exciting adventure for a few months, but it is another huge change and takes them away from their new base in the UK, which they are still adjusting to. Alternatively, if Meghan leaves the children with Harry in the UK, that could mean spending weeks away from her kids, which would be just as difficult.
Regardless of opinions on the royal feud, the wellbeing of Archie and Lilibet remains the main priority. While children can be resilient, they are currently facing a lot of change.
