A snap poll conducted hours after the news broke found that barely 16% of respondents want Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to return to the UK, with almost 85% opposed to the idea. The couple's imminent return is described as a triumph of hope over expectation, with commentator Richard Madeley writing that they are not welcome here.
Family Estrangement and Unresolved Tensions
Prince William and Kate are said to have been told of the return a few days ago, with Madeley suggesting it must have felt like two cordially loathed family members suddenly banging on the door. The couple's move back has been predicted for years, almost since they first left for California. Their TV deal with Netflix quickly turned to ashes, and American public interest in the couple withered almost as fast as their popularity levels.
Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah Winfrey smashed any remaining chance of reconciliation with the family, according to Madeley. The claims of racism made in that interview were never substantiated. The Queen's response was famously understated: "Some recollections may vary."
Security and Schooling Concerns
King Charles, as a father, has publicly welcomed the return of the prodigal son and daughter-in-law. Madeley notes the King is a committed Christian who believes in forgiveness and redemption, and will welcome the chance to get to know two of his grandchildren who have been kept from him.
Prince William, however, is comprehensively estranged from his younger brother. They haven't exchanged a word for years, and the last time they saw each other was at their grandmother's funeral. With two royal households now in the kingdom, tension is certain to run high.
Security and Media Fallout
The couple's children, Archie and Lillibet, start school in the UK in a couple of weeks and will need protection, as will their parents. The question of who will pay for that security remains unresolved, with Madeley asking why taxpayers should fund non-working royals.
The couple's relationship with the media is in a thousand smashed pieces and would take years, probably decades, to be repaired, if ever. Harry still resents his humiliation after his litigation against the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday was comprehensively dismissed by the High Court. A happy homecoming, Madeley concludes, is going to be anything but.
