The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are returning to the United Kingdom after nearly six years in California, but Daily Star senior reporter Adam Cailler questions what the point of their self-imposed exile was.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the UK in a blaze of glory, moving to Montecito, California with their children. They ditched their royal roles while keeping their titles and decided to make a success of their new lives, according to Cailler.
What Was the Point?
From the outside looking in, the pair managed to alienate their entire family on both sides, annoy the vast majority of people in the UK, and achieve very little by way of career rebranding, Cailler writes.
They signed a Netflix deal and created shows that went down like a lead balloon. Prince Harry tried to sue the UK media but failed. Meghan's podcast lasted just two seasons, consisting of six episodes in total.
Prince Harry's self-pitying book Spare launched a barrage of criticisms at virtually every member of the royal family. His brother, Prince William, and stepmother Queen Camilla bore the brunt of the allegations across the book's 416 pages, but King Charles and Princess Kate were not spared either. He has never apologised for the things he said, yet he is about to return to the UK as if nothing ever happened, Cailler notes.
Neighbours and Community
If they were hoping to have a social life in California, it quickly emerged that anyone living near their nine-bedroom home did not like them at all. NewsNation star Paula Froelich claimed last year that they were not well liked within the community, stating: "There's plenty of things for them to do to devote their life to service. But what are the reasons their neighbours can't stand them? Because they don't do anything for the community."
Have They Learned Anything?
Throughout their time in the US, they managed to cause nothing but headaches for Harry's father, King Charles. From ghosting him to making demands over issues like security, while giving a ridiculous interview to Oprah to claim that the entire Royal Family was "racist" – something they vehemently denied – it looked as if their only purpose was to rebel against everything and everyone around them, Cailler writes.
Now they return and will no doubt expect Britain to welcome them with open arms. While Cailler says he is not exactly going to be rolling out the red carpet for the royal rebels, it remains to be seen whether the pair have learned anything from the last six years. Or will they return and cause more chaos? Time will tell.
