Meghan Markle is said to be considering a dramatic next step after her reported return to the UK. Insiders reportedly claim she could revive plans to become a British citizen, six years after Megxit brought her original timeline to a sudden stop.
Citizenship plans back on the table
The Duchess of Sussex, 45, had previously been expected to follow the standard route after marrying Prince Harry, 42, in 2018, with Kensington Palace at the time insisting she would follow the “usual” process without special treatment.
Now, sources suggest that following Harry and Meghan’s physical relocation back to Britain, the idea of naturalisation is back on the table. However, the couple remain firmly outside the working royal fold.
A source told Radar Online: “British citizenship was something Meghan genuinely expected to pursue when she married Harry. At that point she believed Britain would be her permanent home, so becoming a citizen was a natural part of building her life here.
“Everything changed with Megxit. Once Meghan and Harry established themselves in America, there was little practical reason to continue down that road.
“Returning to Britain changes the equation again. She may not rush off tomorrow to study for and sit a citizenship test, but it is something that could logically come back onto the table and be revived if Britain once again becomes their long-term family base.”
Residency rules and symbolic weight
Insiders reportedly point to what they describe as a simple practical reality: once the Sussexes’ home base was California, the strict residency and immigration rules linked to becoming British no longer made much sense to pursue. Returning to the UK, however, changes that calculation, particularly if it signals a longer-term family reset.
Legally, marriage to a British royal does not mean automatic citizenship, and there is no fast-track route simply for being the spouse of a prince. Any application would still be handled through the standard Home Office process for spouses, which includes meeting residency requirements over a designated period, alongside other criteria.
But sources say paperwork is only half the story, because choosing to formally pursue citizenship now would carry huge symbolic weight after the pain of the Sussexes’ original departure. The insider further said: “There would also be symbolism attached to it.
“Meghan’s relationship with Britain became incredibly difficult, and ultimately she felt unable to remain here. Choosing British citizenship now would represent a remarkable change from the circumstances in which she left.”
Distinction from the royal family
The insider further explained: “The complication is that returning geographically doesn’t mean Meghan and Harry have returned to the royal family. Those are completely separate things, and Buckingham Palace has gone out of its way to make that distinction unmistakable.”
