Meghan Markle could be left with little choice but to rethink her UK return as Prince Harry’s security arrangements are reviewed, potentially removing the key barrier that has kept the Sussexes away from Britain.
Meghan Markle may be forced to reconsider her long-standing absence from the UK as Prince Harry’s security arrangements are once again under review, a development that could remove what royal commentators say has been the primary barrier to her return.
Royal author Duncan Larcombe has suggested that the renewed assessment of Harry’s security could leave Meghan with little choice but to backtrack on her decision to stay away from Britain. According to him, security concerns have played a central role in her absence over the past few years. “The security issue has essentially been used as an excuse for Meghan not to come to the UK in the last few years,” he told Mirror, adding, “But many people think the real reason is to do with the public reaction that she’d receive over here.”
Larcombe said that if the review results in official protection being reinstated, Meghan’s position becomes more complicated. “If the protection is put back in place for Harry and Meghan when they’re on UK soil, then there’s really no excuse for her to stay away, so she has to be considering doing a U-turn – she has no choice but to think about it given the new review.”
However, he noted that any return would bring its own challenges, particularly given past tensions within the royal family and public criticism. “But, effectively, she’ll come face to face with the British public and members of the family that she’s been at pains to criticise. She will want to support Harry how she can, and has also said that she doesn’t like to be away from her children for long, so there are going to be some difficult decisions either way.”
Larcombe added, “I don’t think it’s in Meghan’s character to eat humble pie and if she comes to the UK, humble pie is exactly what’s on the menu for her.”
The Invictus Games could potentially soften the optics of a UK visit, Larcombe suggested, warning that Meghan staying away while Harry travels with their children could create further scrutiny. “Meghan is not stupid, she knows that staying away would do her no favours in terms of how people view her over here,” he said. “It would start to raise all sorts of questions about the couple’s relationship and them wanting different things.”
He also claimed the couple is likely consulting advisors as public opinion continues to shift. “I’m sure they’ll be talking to their UK advisors about how the land lies, and if you believe the polls, people may want to see Harry back in the fold but at the moment, they are the outcast couple who live in self-imposed exile and have stirred up a lot of trouble and made a lot of money off the royal family during the rift.”
Prince Harry has repeatedly maintained that security remains the biggest obstacle to returning to the UK with his family. After losing his court case last year, he said a visit would be “impossible,” adding, “I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point.”
Larcombe said that even if security concerns are addressed, significant questions remain. “If they come to the UK, who do they see?” he asked. “Do they see Harry’s old friends that he’s had to isolate from? Does he see his brother who won’t talk to him? Does he see his father who only gave him minutes of his time when they met before? It’s a really complicated, complex situation that Harry and Meghan have managed to get themselves into and there are a lot of questions over exactly what a visit to the UK would look like.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had last travelled to England in 2022 to attend the late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
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