Years of accusations from the Sussex camp have taken their toll on the Prince and Princess of Wales, who are standing firm against Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, declaring they "want no part" in any drama surrounding the couple's planned return to Britain.
Prince William reportedly remains adamant that there is "no way back" for the Sussexes to rejoin the Royal Family in an official capacity. Sources have confirmed that William and King Charles — who were both informed of the move on Sunday, August 16 — are in "complete lockstep," refusing to allow a "half in, half out" royal role after the couple spent years airing grievances against the Firm.
Sussexes' Relocation Plans
News that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to relocate back to the UK within weeks has sent shockwaves through royal households. The Sussexes have reportedly enrolled Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, in a British school and intend to rent a non-royal residence outside London while letting out their nine-bedroom £12 million Montecito mansion.
Despite the stir, friends close to the Prince and Princess of Wales have stressed that the couple is looking strictly forward. One source said, according to The Mirror: "Obviously the Sussexes' return will make inevitable headlines for a few days, but it has no bearing on the prince and princess' life moving forward."
William and Catherine's Stance
"If anything, events that have affected them over the past couple of years have made them even more determined to concentrate on what is important to them, their family, their public roles and the ability to provide generational change for good with their public roles, and look forward to the future," the source added.
Another source close to the couple said: "What Harry and Meghan choose to do is up to them. As far as William and Catherine are concerned they have left that period of their lives behind many years ago."
"While they simply can not forgive everything that has been against them and the family, they do not have the time or the energy for any negativity or the drama that the Sussexes surround themselves with. As they have demonstrated with their public roles, everything they are trying to do is about positivity and making the world a better place as far as they can."
Brothers' Strained Relationship
It is understood that Prince William has not spoken to his brother in person since Queen Elizabeth's funeral in September 2022, with zero phone or text contact for over two and a half years. While King Charles's stance toward his younger son has softened — having met with Harry on three separate occasions and welcoming the prospect of seeing his grandchildren more — William appears to remain entirely closed to reconciliation.
The Sussexes' impending move comes just six weeks after a meeting at Highgrove with the King and Queen. However, security remains a major flashpoint. "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point," Harry told the BBC in May 2025 following the loss of his High Court battle with the Government over his right to taxpayer-funded security in the UK. Spokespersons for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not yet commented on the reports of their relocation.
