Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly planning to return to the UK to establish a rival royal court once Prince William ascends the throne, according to broadcaster Mark Dolan. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Britain with their children, Archie and Lilibet, for the first time in four years this month, reigniting speculation about a possible permanent move back.
Rival Court Speculation
Speaking on The Royalist podcast, Mark Dolan suggested the couple could build their own rival royal court, partly based in the UK, in a move that would "make life a misery" for William and Kate after they become King and Queen. He said: "Meghan and Harry will make life a misery for King William and Queen Catherine. And they'd love to be in the UK, I think up to half the year with this rival court, and then it's going to carry on into the next generation." Dolan added that Archie and Lilibet, when teenagers, could "make life a misery for George, Charlotte and Louis." He also urged King Charles to "scale back" operations and turn the monarchy into a "lean, mean fighting machine."
Spokesperson Responds
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex described the comments as "deeply distasteful" and defended the children. They said: "There is a fundamental difference between criticising public figures and choosing to demonise two young children who have done absolutely nothing to warrant it. To speculate that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will one day 'make life a misery' for their cousins is an extraordinary and irresponsible thing to say about children. We are genuinely disgusted by these comments. Whatever views people may hold about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, children should never be dragged into adult disputes or portrayed as future antagonists for the sake of a provocative soundbite. Most people would recognise that as a line which simply should not be crossed."
