Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have returned to the UK with their two children, prompting fresh interest in when they might be seen in public together. A royal expert has revealed that the couple's representatives gave a blunt two-word response when asked about a possible joint appearance at an upcoming royal event.
Two-word response from Sussexes' team
Speaking on The Royals with Roya and Kate podcast, Kate Mansey, assistant editor at The Times, said she had gone directly to the Sussexes' team to ask whether Meghan would join Harry at an upcoming Diana Awards event. She said: "Now, I went to the Sussex's and said, 'What do you make of these reports? Is it correct that we're going to expect to see Harry and Megan at these at this event together?' And they said, 'Absolutely not.'"
Roya Nikkhah, royal editor at The Sunday Times, immediately responded: "They're not going, are they?"
PR strategy behind decision
Kate suggested there could be a deliberate PR strategy behind Meghan's decision not to appear alongside her husband, pointing out that the Duchess understands the impact of being seen at a high-profile royal event. "In terms of PR? It's clever, isn't it? Because everybody's expecting to see her," she said.
Kate added that Meghan "knows very well" the value of a public appearance and would be choosing her appearances "very carefully".
Focus on lifestyle brand
The pair also discussed what Meghan could be focusing on during her time in the UK, with Roya pointing to her lifestyle brand. Roya said it had been made clear by Meghan's camp that she would continue working on her homeware and lifestyle products, while recent social media activity had also offered hints about her plans.
She suggested there could potentially be a UK launch for the brand, despite reports that Meghan intends to continue running much of the business from the US. Kate agreed, arguing that Meghan clearly views Britain as an important market after previously trademarking the brand there.
"Surely she will. I mean, they're trademarked, aren't they? Here. She did that quite a few years ago. So, she obviously sees Britain as a market like she did in Australia when she went to Australia on that. She sees Australia as a market. She's got big ambitions, hasn't she, for that brand. That's not going anywhere."
Return to Britain
The discussion comes amid renewed attention on Harry and Meghan's return to Britain with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, with the children reportedly expected to start at a prep school next month.
The couple are reportedly staying at a countryside retreat and are said to have barely left their new home since jetting in from the US, with rumours swirling about how long they will stay and possible filming opportunities for Meghan. King Charles met the Sussexes and their children at his Highgrove home in the summer before their surprise return to the UK, an encounter said to have influenced their decision to find a home in England.
