Meghan Markle is set to make her first official engagement in the United Kingdom in six years, marking a significant return to the country she left after stepping down as a senior working royal in 2020. The Duchess of Sussex will join her husband, Prince Harry, for visits to the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London and an Invictus Games event at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. This will be her first UK engagement since attending the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020, just weeks before the couple officially ceased their royal duties on March 31, 2020.
Details of the Visit
According to reports, the visit is scheduled to take place within the next few weeks, though exact dates have not been confirmed. The trip will also include their children, Archie and Lilibet, marking their first visit to the UK as a family in several years. King Charles has reportedly offered the Sussexes accommodation at a royal residence, but Buckingham Palace has yet to receive formal confirmation of acceptance.
Security Concerns Remain
Security arrangements for the family remain a contentious issue. Harry has been engaged in a protracted legal battle with the Home Office over the level of protection afforded to him and his family when in the UK. His security status changed after he stepped down as a working royal in 2020, and he has been seeking a review by the Risk Management Board (RMB), part of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec). However, Harry's team learned on Friday that the review has not yet taken place.
A spokesman for Prince Harry said: “The duke continues to explore every available option to enable the visit to proceed safely and to give his children the opportunity to enjoy the UK.” It is understood that the family will not receive taxpayer-funded protection while in the UK, except when they are within royal residences.
Background and Context
Meghan's last public appearance in the UK was in September 2022, when she attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Prior to that, she and Harry participated in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. Her last official engagement as a working royal was the Commonwealth Day service in March 2020. The couple relocated to the United States later that year and have since built a life in California, focusing on their Archewell Foundation and various media projects.
The upcoming visit is seen as a potential step toward reconciliation with the Royal Family, though tensions remain high following Harry's memoir, “Spare,” and the couple's interviews about their experiences within the institution. The Invictus Games event in Birmingham is expected to be a key highlight of the trip, showcasing Harry's ongoing commitment to the wounded veterans community.
