Telha
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle envisioned a carefree life in sunny California. Their reality seems far from what they expected.
The couple left Britain behind in pursuit of a fresh start in the United States. But they have faced numerous challenges. Among them is their struggle to form friendships and Harry’s lingering nostalgia for his old life.
Reports suggest he misses his friends and life in Britain
Royal expert Tom Quinn claims Harry is considering purchasing a house in the UK. Thus as a base for visiting his family, despite ongoing tensions since stepping down from royal duties.
While Harry has made a handful of trips back.
Considering prospect of him visiting with Meghan and their children remains uncertain. Meghan reportedly harbors concerns about their children’s safety in the UK.
Meghan’s reluctance to travel to Britain
“It’s now got to the point where Meghan doesn’t want to come to the UK with the children. She just doesn’t feel safe. The situation is now about whether the family should attend with increased security or Harry should go it alone,” they shared.
Last year, Harry legally challenged the Home Office’s decision to cut his security protection in the UK. The Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) withdrew his automatic police protection. Thus rejecting his offer to personally fund security.
“It was with great sadness for both of us. My wife and I felt forced to step back from this role. We had to leave the country in 2020.”-Harry’s statement, read by his lawyer Shaheed Fatima KC, explained.
“The UK is my home. The UK is central to the heritage of my children. A place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the US. That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil.”
“I cannot put my wife in danger like that. Given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way too.”
Harry and Meghan remain close to certain members, including Princess Eugenie. Recently, they purchased a property in Portugal near Eugenie’s home.
A move royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams interprets as a possible effort to maintain ties with select royals. Also potentially rebuild relationships with King Charles and Prince William.
However, rumors have emerged about possible strains in Harry and Meghan’s marriage. A source told Closer that Meghan is “deeply concerned” the royals “might manipulate” Harry into returning to royal life.
“Now, if it is deemed safe from a security standpoint, it’s likely she’ll give her blessing for Harry to take Archie and Lilibet to see their grandpa, King Charles, at some point,” the insider said, according to The Sun. “And in terms of logistics, having a place in Portugal will make that easier, because Meghan can fly over with the kids without feeling trapped.”
In recent months, Harry and Meghan have taken on numerous solo engagements, fueling speculation about their relationship. A source told GB News that the rumors have affected Meghan.
“She has really felt the strain in recent weeks, and with all the speculation surrounding her and Harry and their marriage,” the source said. “They haven’t done themselves any favours by doing so many separate events, but this is what they have decided to do as it works best for them at the moment as a couple, and they both feel they can shine at events that are close to their hearts.”
The source continued: “But it does upset her that, while Harry was getting praised for all of his appearances, she is getting criticised for what she says, what she wears, etc., and it brings back hurtful memories of when she was a royal.”
PR expert Ed Coram James believes the couple’s decision to pursue separate projects could help them rebuild their public image. He explained that their joint brand has suffered since the controversial Oprah interview.
“This is because the ongoing confrontation with the rest of the Royal Family, as well as much of Meghan’s family, have made them appear confrontational and combative, their string of commercial projects that haven’t worked out and have led to a sense that they aren’t the best producers. And their worldwide publicity tour made them look whiney, ungrateful, and unconscious to the enormous privilege that they have enjoyed,” he told the Mirror.
“To overcome the obstacles of appearing spoiled, arrogant, immature, attention-seeking, aggressive, fight-picking, hypocritical, and incompetent is very tricky. But, it is achievable. To do it, they need to lean into the exact opposites of these labels. The first step in this always had to be to dissociate themselves from the brand that had achieved such labels in the first place.”
James added: “When combined, the Sussexes’ brand is, from a PR perspective, toxic. But, when separate, they have a genuine chance of creating an entirely separate brand, with completely different labels. If they manage to achieve this, then one day they could again reunite brands and create a new combined brand that works.”
Renae Smith, founder of PR firm Atticism, agrees but warns this strategy could strain their relationship. “I think their decision to pursue individual brands could indeed work in their favour over the long term, although it’s bound to spark a fair amount of public speculation in the short term,” she said.
“From a PR perspective, this shift might allow each of them to create distinct brands that better reflect their different priorities and resonate more coherently with their individual audiences.”
Recently, Meghan and Harry acknowledged they are at a “crossroads” in their professional journeys. While Meghan attended a Thanksgiving event hosted by the Southern California Welcome Project in collaboration with their Archewell Foundation, Harry was in Canada attending events tied to the Invictus Games.
At the event, Meghan expressed gratitude for connecting with women resettled in the U.S. from Afghanistan. “This initiative, led by the partner organization Mina’s List, has spent the past year building community through storytelling and creating a safe space for women who have resettled in the U.S. from Afghanistan. The evening included a shared meal that encouraged open conversation centered on gratitude and resilience,” she said in her statement.
The couple is set to attend the Invictus Games together in February 2025. They are expected to bring their children, offering a rare public appearance of Archie and Lilibet.
