Speculation is mounting over a potential return to Britain by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, with public relations specialists issuing a stark warning that such a move could be a "high-risk" strategy for her personal brand. The discussion intensifies as Prince Harry's long-running battle to reinstate his automatic police protection in the UK reaches a critical juncture.
The Security Key to a Royal Return
At the heart of the matter is the security status of Prince Harry. The Duke has consistently stated he will not bring his wife, Meghan, or their two children—six-year-old Prince Archie and four-year-old Princess Lilibet—to the UK without publicly-funded police protection. His security was removed when he stepped back as a working royal in 2020, and since then, his needs have been assessed on a case-by-case basis, requiring three months' notice to the government for each visit.
After years of legal challenges, including a final loss against the Home Office, Harry's security arrangements are now undergoing an official risk assessment. Multiple reports suggest this assessment is likely to conclude in his favour, potentially reinstating his right to automatic police security and ending a costly and divisive chapter that has strained family relations.
A Calculated Comeback or a Brand Risk?
Should Harry's security be restored, many believe it would pave the way for Meghan's first visit to the UK since September 2022, when she attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. However, experts are divided on the wisdom of such a return for the Duchess's commercial and public standing.
Daily Mail columnist Sarah Vine has argued that a UK reappearance could provide a significant financial boost, recharging Meghan's "royal fairy dust" and enhancing the profile of her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. Vine contends that after nearly six years in America, the royal association needs refreshing to maintain commercial relevance.
In stark contrast, PR consultant Mayah Riaz offers a far more cautious analysis. Speaking to the Mirror, Riaz labelled a potential UK trip as "high risk, high noise." She explained that Meghan's commercial power is firmly rooted in the United States, where her royal connection is already an established part of her brand narrative. "American audiences do not need to see her on British soil to be reminded she married into the Royal Family," Riaz stated.
Navigating a Fractured Public Perception
The challenge of public opinion in Britain looms large. Current YouGov polling paints a difficult picture for the Sussexes' popularity amongst the British public. Meghan holds a favourable rating of just 22%, with Harry at 37%. This contrasts sharply with Prince William at 71% and the Princess of Wales at 69%.
Riaz believes a shift in UK perception is possible but only under "very specific conditions." "It would need to be values led, low key and purpose driven," she advised. "Not a glossy appearance, not a brand moment, and certainly not framed as a reconciliation tour. Anything that looks performative would harden opinions rather than soften them."
She emphasised that the UK media landscape is "far less forgiving" and any visit would be minutely dissected, likely reigniting old controversies rather than forging a new path. "For Meghan, a visit would likely reignite old narratives rather than create new ones. From a PR standpoint, that is rarely a smart trade," Riaz concluded.
The expert suggested Meghan's current strategy of focusing on her US audience allows for brand building "without reopening wounds that remain very much alive in the British psyche." As Prince Harry prepares for another legal battle in London later this month, against the publisher of the Daily Mail, reports indicate no planned meeting with King Charles, underscoring the delicate and ongoing nature of royal family dynamics.
