Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could yet perform a U-turn and return to the USA for one "messy" reason, a royal expert claimed. The Sussexes made their shock return to the UK a little over a month ago, just days after announcing their decision to come back. It is believed the former working royals are living somewhere in the Cotswolds with children Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five.
However, their time back on British soil has been beset with issues. Harry and Meghan withdrew their children from their school immediately after enrolling them over security concerns. They also suffered a dressing down from King Charles after he issued an official letter confirming their status of non-working royals.
Security review and possible US return
Rumour has it that the pair could even return to the USA if Harry and Meghan are unsuccessful in reinstating their state-funded security. Now they are full-time residents in the UK, the couple have been granted a review by Ravec, which oversees tax-funded security for royalty and public figures.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams is not ruling out the couple returning to the USA - and there is one reason for that uncertainty. He told Reach PLC: "They're not planning things well, their arrangements are a mess. They could return to the US because anything is possible with them."
He added: "The school had to be changed. They are significant figures, anything could happen. These are the things you need to plan for."
Reasons for the return
Richard then moved on to reason Harry and Meghan returned to the UK more than six years after leaving. The couple had claimed they wanted to escape the glare of the spotlight in Britain, so what has changed?
There have been a number of theories put forward about their sudden return, some of which were suggested as potential reasons by Richard. These include the upcoming 30th anniversary of Princess Diana's death, the Invictus Games (which take place in Birmingham next year) and the most common reason - that they want to educate their children in the UK. Other commentators have even purported that one motive for moving back to the UK is to put pressure on the government to regain their state-funded security.
The royal expert said that, while few know officially why Harry and Meghan have come back, he's sure the Duke of Sussex would be desperate for his father, King Charles, to be present at next year's Invictus Games. He said: "No one knows officially why they've come back. The 30th anniversary of Diana's death is coming up. The children getting a British education, Meghan showing her thespian ability."
He added: "There's also the Invictus Games, I'm sure Harry wants the King there. I'm sure he wants the King there in person."
Impact on the Royal Family
Richard thinks there will be "some compromise" on the security issue, but whether it is enough to placate Harry "remains to be seen". What he is certain of is that their sudden return to the UK will have had the Royal Family "on the back foot". He reckons they "surely preferred it when they were on the other side of the world".
He continued: "They can now come and go as they please. When they're in situ, they can do as they like. They're members of the Royal Family without being working royals - something like the half in, half out deal they want."
He added: "The Royal Family are on the back foot, they didn't know they were coming over. The Royal Family surely preferred it when they were on the other side of the world. Harry wouldn't have dreamed of bringing his family over but now they want to live in the UK again?"
