Six years after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they were stepping away from the royal family and Britain, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to return to the UK before the end of the month. The couple have established their lives in California, with Harry making occasional visits for events connected to his charitable endeavours back home.
Return to the UK
It has now emerged that the Duke and Duchess are set to return to the UK before the end of the month. The couple are believed to have secured a private, non-royal residence in Britain, though details regarding their precise location or which school their children will attend have been withheld for security and privacy reasons, reports the Daily Star.
King Charles is understood to have been informed of the couple's intentions following an emotional reunion with his youngest son last month. The move will also afford the King greater opportunity to spend time with his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, whom he has met only a handful of times since Harry and Meghan departed the UK.
However, Harry and Meghan are retaining their Montecito, California house, along with a holiday home in Portugal, meaning it remains unclear whether the relocation to Britain will prove a permanent arrangement.
Allegations and Confrontation
Since Harry stepped back from his duties as a senior working royal, he has made a series of allegations about his relationships with his family, both through television interviews and in his autobiography, Spare, released in 2023. In his memoir, he recounts a particularly explosive confrontation with his elder brother, Prince William, over his relationship with Meghan Markle.
The Duke of Sussex claims the heir to the throne turned up at his home "piping hot" and declared he wished to address "the whole rolling catastrophe" of their relationship and its surrounding media troubles. However, upon arriving at Nottingham Cottage, within the grounds of Kensington Palace, William was already "piping hot".
The two royals reportedly then began shouting over one another, with heated insults exchanged between them. Harry alleges he fired back: "Are you serious? Help me? Sorry – is that what you call this? Helping me?" He recalls William using expletives as he advanced towards him upon entering the kitchen. Harry describes offering his brother a glass of water and saying: "Willy, I can't speak to you when you're like this."
Physical Altercation
The now-Prince of Wales allegedly set down the water before moving closer towards his younger brother. Harry said: "He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dog's bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out."
William then allegedly tried to goad his brother into a physical altercation as they had done during their younger years, but Harry refused before William voiced remorse. However, as he left, Harry claimed William told him not to inform Meghan. He confessed that he initially honoured his word, but subsequently Meghan spotted "scrapes and bruises" and became "sad" yet unsurprised when he revealed what had occurred.
