A former palace staffer has identified three royals who could help Prince Harry and Meghan Markle win over Brits and improve their public image in the UK. A recent YouGov poll shows a third of the British public are against the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s return to Britain.
The poll, carried out the day after Harry and Meghan’s surprise U-turn, showed 33% believe King Charles's youngest son and the former Suits star should not come back, while 45% do not know.
Royal support could shift public opinion
Ailsa Anderson, who was the late Queen's press secretary, suggested three members of the Royal Family would be pivotal in helping the Sussexes return. She told The Sun's Royal Exclusive podcast: "If they have the support of the King, who of course is still battling cancer, and if they reconcile with Prince William and the Princess of Wales, and we see them more of a family unit, and reconciliation happens, then I think that support and public opinion will absolutely shift."
Anderson added: "But they are pretty much at base level at the moment and they're going to have to do an awful lot to increase that." Asked if Harry and Meghan will push for the half-in, half-out deal they wanted during negotiations over their exit as working royals in 2020, Anderson said she could not see them doing so.
No half-in, half-out option
The expert, who worked for Elizabeth II from 2001 to 2013, said: "It never worked before. I don't think they have the goodwill of their family and of the British public to do that. So, no, I don't think they'll be able to have their cake and eat it."
Anderson's comments in part echo reports of King Charles's reaction to the Sussexes' plan. The monarch is said to be glad to be able to spend more time with the family, but remains adamant they will not be working royals and there is no half-in, half-out option.
Prince William and Princess Catherine have not reacted publicly to the news, but former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt suggested William would be “apoplectic”. The future king is estranged from his brother after Harry made controversial claims about the Royal Family in the wake of his and Meghan's exit.
Return plans and public polling
Harry claimed in his controversial memoir, Spare, that William had physically attacked him in a row over Meghan, and that his brother and Kate encouraged him to wear a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party in 2005 and “howled” with laughter when they saw it. The Sussexes also told Oprah Winfrey an unnamed royal made a racist remark about their son’s skin tone before he was born. Harry has since rowed back on allegations of racism.
Meghan and Harry moved to California more than six years ago amid the turbulent "Megxit" crisis. This was followed by ongoing family fallouts and a barrage of accusations fired at not only the Prince and Princess of Wales but the King and Queen Camilla too. But now, Harry and Meghan are set to return later this month to live in a non-royal residence outside of London, having already enrolled Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in British schools.
Their return to the UK will be for an extended period, but won't be permanent. They are maintaining their home in Montecito, California, and holiday home in Portugal. Questions remain unanswered as to whether taxpayers will foot the bill for their security, and the exact reason for their decision, with the Sussexes yet to comment publicly.
The couple’s plans came as a surprise to many on Wednesday night, with even the King only finding out about it just three days before it was made public. Rumours have abounded as to where Harry and Meghan will choose to settle, with suggestions including rural locations in the Cotswolds in Oxfordshire or Gloucestershire, amid speculation over which schools they have chosen for their children.
YouGov's poll found the older generation was more likely to say they should not move back – with 47% of those over 65 thinking the couple should not return, compared with 24% of those aged 18-24. The poll surveyed 5,810 adults in the UK on August 20.
