Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's return to the UK could be "hell" for Princess Kate, a royal commentator has claimed. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have returned to the country after six years living in California, raising their children Archie and Lilibet, now aged five and seven.
King Charles's Letter Adds to Tensions
Tensions are already running high after their return. King Charles issued a shock letter clarifying that Harry and Meghan remain private citizens, not working royals. In response, the Sussexes said they were surprised by the letter and claimed they were not "told about this in advance".
It has also emerged that Harry is planning a number of public engagements. As a result, some royal experts are suggesting Harry and Meghan's UK return could be a nightmare for Princess Kate.
Royal Expert Warns of 'Stolen Thunder'
Writing for News.au, royal expert Daniela Elser warned: "It does not appear the Sussexes have any plans to sit quietly in the shires to reclusively collect delphinium cuttings and rescue dogs." She added: "For Kate, what are the chances of Harry and Meghan's off-brand royalling not stealing all the available thunder?"
As Harry plans to make a number of public appearances, The Times has also reported that Meghan is keen to continue charity work of her own. This comes as the royals return from their summer break and prepare to undertake a number of public outings.
'Kate's New Working Royal Year Is Shaping Up to Be Hell'
Ms Elser continued: "Kate's new working royal year is shaping up to be hell." The Sun's Royal Editor, Hugo Vickers, has warned that Harry's events could also distract from William's public engagements.
He said: "The awful thing is that whenever they come to this country, if Prince William is doing one thing and Prince Harry is doing another, it will be interpreted as a competition—even if Prince Harry does not intend it to be. Therefore, it becomes a distraction. I don't quite know what they want to do, but presumably, they want to raise their profile. If they intend to be public figures and carry out more of these appearances, they will inevitably be in competition with the royal family—effectively setting up an alternative court. That is not a positive development."
