Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent visit to Australia may have been a commercial success, but it has reportedly created difficulties for any potential reunion with the royal family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex concluded their whirlwind tour on 17 April, making headlines worldwide with emotional speeches, television appearances—including Meghan's guest spot on MasterChef Australia—and lucrative business engagements.
Potential Summer Reunion at Sandringham
Prior to their Australian trip, it was reported that Harry, 41, is eager for his father, King Charles, to invite him and his family to Sandringham this summer. Harry is expected to be in the UK for a "one-year-to-go" event ahead of the Invictus Games next year. If the meeting takes place, it would be the first time the Sussex children—Archie, six, and four-year-old Lilibet—have seen their grandfather in nearly four years. Meghan, 44, has not been seen in public in the UK since Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022.
Royal Expert Weighs In
Royal expert Richard Palmer believes the couple's Australian trip likely "raised concerns" at the palace. He suggests that an in-person reunion might be the only solution if the King ever wants to rebuild his relationship with Harry and his grandchildren. "Spending a few days together at Sandringham or another royal residence could enable some sort of showdown that clears the air," Palmer says. "Many in the outside world think they all need to move on. The King finds it incredibly painful that he can't see his grandchildren, but is very cautious about re-engaging."
An amicable reunion would delight fans devastated by Harry and Meghan's decision to step down as working royals and move to the US six years ago. Palmer stresses that careful management is crucial for any proposed meet-up to succeed. "I think people around the King believe there needs to be some sort of accommodation reached," he explains. "Perhaps the way to achieve that is by allowing them to get together away from cameras, say what needs to be said, and spend quality time together to start being a family again."
Harry's Emotional Speeches
Despite his reported eagerness to be accepted back into the royal fold, Harry risked ruffling feathers during his Australian tour by admitting he had been reluctant to embrace his royal role after the death of his mother, Princess Diana. In an emotional speech in Melbourne, he said, "I was like, 'I don't want this job. I don't want this role. Wherever this is headed, I don't like it. It killed my mum, and I was very much against it.'" He also spoke of needing to "cleanse himself of the past" to become the best father to Archie and Lilibet, revealing he had felt "lost, betrayed or completely powerless" and that putting on a brave face in public added extra pressure.
Concerns Over Cashing In
Palmer argues that the bigger issue jeopardising a potential summer meeting is not Harry's words but the fact that the Sussexes have "essentially got what they wanted, which is to be half in, half out of royal life." He notes, "What Harry said about his childhood and the past didn't come close to what was said in the Netflix series and his autobiography Spare. But that isn't where the problem lies. The monarchy is all about public service, not private gain, and non-working royals as high-profile as Harry and Meghan appearing to cash in on their royal status attracts uncomfortable attention for the palace."
Palmer adds, "The Sussexes aren't funded by the taxpayer or officially representing the UK, but they were doing similar things to the royals on their quasi-royal tour and appear to be earning money from it. This has raised concerns with the palace."
Precedent of Non-Working Royals
Harry and Meghan are not the first non-working royals to face accusations of cashing in. In 2020, Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, sparked controversy by starring in a television advert for a state-owned Chinese dairy brand. The advertisement described him as "British Royal Family member, Peter Phillips."
Palmer claims the Sussexes' Australian tour is "the starkest example of them cashing in on their royal status" yet, adding that it presents a serious dilemma for the core working royals. "It raises the question again about whether King Charles, or Prince William when he becomes King, makes it clearer who are working members of the family and who aren't. One way to do that is to remove their titles completely," he says.
Trust Issues Remain
There is also the problem of lingering trust issues between Harry and Meghan and various members of the royal family, particularly Prince William. Palmer alleges, "One of the big risks if they come over to Sandringham and stay with the King and Queen Camilla is that it's a very high-profile trip. If Meghan's selling replicas of her clothing and Harry's making money doing speeches, then the King is looking like he's helping them to make money. That is a big risk for the monarchy."
Only time will tell if the monarchy is willing to take that risk.
