The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have returned to Britain with their children following six years of living in the United States, but a former royal aide has cautioned that they face a considerable challenge if they wish to regain public favour. Harry and Meghan are said to be planning an extended stay in the UK with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, with their children reportedly enrolled in British schools ahead of the new academic term.
Aide outlines five steps for the Sussexes
Ailsa Anderson, who formerly served as press secretary to the late Queen Elizabeth II, believes the Sussexes have a long way to go if they hope to mend their relationship with both the British public and the Royal Family. Speaking on the Daily Mail's Palace Confidential YouTube programme, Ms Anderson outlined five steps she believes Harry and Meghan ought to take.
Her initial recommendation was to refrain from actively seeking publicity. She said: "I have to say, sometimes I miss my old job, but today is not one of them. We see popularity polls for members of the Royal Family. The Sussexes are still way down those polls um along with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. So, they've got a lot to do to rebuild the trust of the British public and their own family."
Advice to stay under the radar
She suggested the couple should avoid attempting to rival other members of the Royal Family or deliberately positioning themselves at the centre of attention. Instead, Ms Anderson urged them to "settle in the UK" and keep "under the radar" as much as possible.
Her final piece of advice was to proceed gradually, rather than trying to mend years of fractured relationships in a single sweeping gesture. "And start slowly rebuilding that trust because, even if you're going to come here and go all guns blazing, people are not going to like that," she said.
Patience required to regain trust
The royal commentator also cautioned that regaining public favour would require considerable patience. "And I think, you know, we've seen the coverage so far. They're not popular. So it's going to take a long time to actually regain that trust from the public and from their own family," she added.
The remarks follow reports that Harry, Meghan and their children arrived at Birmingham Airport from California shortly before midday on Wednesday aboard a private Bombardier Global Express XRS. The couple have refused to comment on their travel plans, with a spokesman stating: "This is not something we would comment on."
Their dogs Mia and Pula are understood to have accompanied them, while their chickens have remained at their Montecito residence. Speculation has also mounted regarding where the family will reside, with the Cotswolds among the areas being mooted. Accounts have varied over whether the visit will extend only until autumn or whether Harry might stay in Britain for a more prolonged period to enable his children to receive a British education.
Having stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to the United States, the Sussexes remain non-working members of the Royal Family. Their return to the UK has also prompted fresh questions surrounding their security arrangements, with reports indicating that the couple currently rely on privately funded protection rather than a taxpayer-funded police escort. It is understood that a risk assessment regarding Harry's security was carried out at the end of July, though reports suggest he is yet to be informed of its findings.
