As Prince Harry apparently eyes up an unexpected ‘family time’ trip to the UK, an expert warns that he and wife Meghan Markle are currently navigating a tricky “crossroads” in life
Nearly eight years after their fairytale wedding, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly reached a crossroads, and an unexpected summer plan could change everything.
On May 19, 2018, crowds gathered in Windsor to celebrate the wedding of Harry and Meghan, with guests gathering in the historic St George’s Chapel to watch the happy couple say, ‘I do’. It was a glamorous affair, combining the newlyweds’ respective worlds of royalty and Hollywood. The likes of George and Amal Clooney lined the pews, while King Charles III, then still Prince of Wales, proudly walked his new daughter-in-law down the aisle, in place of her now estranged father, Thomas Markle.
A glittering and joyous occasion, set against bright blue May skies, nobody could have guessed what would come to pass less than two years later. On January 8, 2020, the UK woke up to the news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would be stepping back from their roles as senior members of the Royal Family, and would be carving out financially independent lives for themselves beyond the palace walls.
A new life in Montecito, California, beckoned, and with it, Netflix deals, podcasts and bombshell interviews, their most notable being a sit-down chat with Oprah Winfrey. Here, the couple spoke openly about the tensions that had erupted within the seemingly united House of Windsor behind closed doors, with a particular focus on Harry’s strained relationship with father, Charles, and brother Prince William.
The years since have done nothing to thaw the ice across the Atlantic Ocean, with Harry’s explosive 2023 bombshell, Spare, viewed as the final nail in the coffin by many Royal watchers. However, there are whispers that all is not lost yet, with Harry reportedly hoping for a UK visit at a pivotal time in his life.
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As reported by The Sunday Times, despite their widely publicised disagreements, Harry, 41, is keen to visit his beloved father Charles, who is still living with an undisclosed form of cancer, and hopes to receive an invitation to Sandringham this summer. The Duke of Sussex is reportedly keen for some “family time”, and longs to bring Meghan, 44, and their two children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.
It will have been four long years since the little prince and princess, who are being raised over in America, saw their paternal grandfather. Meanwhile, mum-of-two Meghan hasn’t visited the UK since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. It’s clear that such a reunion would mark a huge step forward for the divided family, but it’s not quite as simple as booking plane tickets.
Harry is understood to be waiting for a decision regarding his security in the UK, with the Sussexes having been stripped of their right to armed police protection following the so-called “Megxit”. The Duke has repeatedly asserted that, until this royal protection is reinstated, he does not feel safe bringing his young family across the pond.
However, it’s thought that an invitation to Norfolk from Charles, 77, could enable Harry to bring Meghan, Archie and Lili along on the trip. A pal of Harry’s told the publication: “If he was invited by the King, he would get a package of security that automatically kicks in. He’d like an invite to Sandringham. Would he go? It would depend who was there. If the King was to say, ‘Come up and spend some time with the family’, he’d love that.”
Harry and Charles last saw each other on September 10, at Clarence House, for a 50-minute tea, marking their first meeting in 19 months. It’s understood they’ve spoken several times since, but haven’t seen each other face to face, a prospect that Harry would “love” to come to pass. However, such an event will, of course, all depend on security.
The source continued: “There is not a world in which he brings the kids back unless there is an enhanced security package around them. If the King wants to see the kids, all he needs to do is invite them over and it can happen. It is up to the King, unless Ravec do the right thing independently of the King and decide he requires an enhanced package of security, so he can stay as long as he wants whenever he wants, and see his father with the children. There are lots of scenarios to make it work, but it’s all out of Harry’s hands. No father would want to put their kids at any risk.”
While Charles spends his summers at Balmoral, he often spends time at Sandringham in July first, and so it can be assumed that this is the month such a long- awaited visit would take place. These reports come at a supposed “crossroads” for Harry and Meghan, who are allegedly seeing some cracks in their glossy American dream.
It’s believed by some that the shine could be coming off the once sought-after Sussex brand, with British population polls showing a steady decline . In the latest YouGov.com polls, just 19 per cent of people had a positive view of Meghan – her lowest ranking yet – while Harry came in at 31 per cent, significantly lower than brother Prince William’s 77 per cent.
While Meghan’s Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, and As Ever range of wines and jams have brought in the cash, with an astonishing value of $250m (£185m), popularity will be needed in the long term to keep her brands coveted. Now, PR guru Mayah Riaz believes the couple has reached a crucial turning point on the road, and a “clear lane” ahead will be needed to keep the ship steady.
Ms Riaz previously told the Mirror: “Harry and Meghan no longer have the institutional weight of the monarchy behind them. Without that framework, they are competing in a very crowded celebrity marketplace. In today’s world, star power alone is not enough. You need a clear lane and a compelling reason for people to keep watching.
“They are still globally recognised, and that is a powerful asset. But relevance today is not about titles. It is about consistency, credibility and connection. In terms of the Andrew scandal creating space for them, I think that was always a risky assumption. Controversy within the royal family does not automatically translate into opportunity for those outside it. If anything, what we see is that the public often rallies around stability in turbulent moments.”
When the Sussexes’ five-year Netflix deal came to an end last summer, it was announced that their contract was being downgraded to a less lucrative “first look deal”, giving the streaming giant first refusal on any new projects. Then, earlier this month, it was announced that Netflix would be parting ways with Meghan’s lifestyle brand As Ever. Now, scathing reports in Variety suggest the relationship between the Sussexes and Netflix is “done”. As per the showbiz bible, certain decisions from the couple – including their Oprah interview – “blindsided” bosses. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have strongly denied the claims.
Stock was reportedly a concern for Netflix, with the publication claiming that last August, Netflix was “sitting on a surplus of As Ever products, including tea and baking mixes, totalling more than $10 million in value”. The magazine also alleged that the company began “giving inventory to employees for free, putting the goods on card tables in various office buildings”. In response, an Archewell spokesperson stated that giveaways from sample closets are regarded as standard practice at studios.
Meanwhile, there have also been questions regarding the supposedly mixed messages the Sussexes are sending out. While they’ve long called for privacy for themselves and their children, Meghan surprised many by increasingly featuring blurred images of Archie and Lilibet in photos for brand promotions. In one snap, half of Lilibet’s face was visible, in a move some believe wouldn’t sit well with protective dad Harry at all.
On this note, royal expert and author Ingrid Seward told the Mirror: “They have completely ignored the fact that they said they were leaving the royal family because they wanted a more private life, and they have created anything but that for themselves. It appears they left the family because they wanted a public life and to earn money.”
Having built an empire off their royal lineage, the Sussexes are now in an in-between state, straddling the philanthropic pursuits Harry honed during his time in the palace, and Meghan’s more recent endeavours as a lifestyle guru and entrepreneur. Ms Riaz told us: “Ultimately, they are at a crossroads. They can either lean fully into being global philanthropists with measurable impact, or fully embrace lifestyle entrepreneurship and own it unapologetically. Sitting between the two is what I think creates the confusion. And in the current media climate, confusion is the quickest route to indifference.”
Now independent from Netflix, there are hints as to where Meghan will be taking her As Ever brand next, with some speculating she could have her eye on Australia. A source recently told the Telegraph: “We are thinking about the next step in global expansion and Australia has been teed up as the first test market outside the US. It’s the first place we are looking at and having conversations. They have to earn a living. They are private citizens and have to pay the bills like anyone else.”
In response, a Sussex spokesperson said: “This is speculation. No decisions have been made about when or where international expansion might take place. Entering new markets is a considered process, but it’s something the brand is excited to explore as it continues to grow in this next phase. Watch this space.”
Eagle-eyed royal watchers have noted that Harry and Meghan will be heading to Oz just next month to partake in “private, business and philanthropic engagements”. This marks their first trip to Oz since October 2018. During this trip, Meghan will appear at a £1,400 per person ‘girls’ weekend’ in Sydney, led by Her Best Life podcast founder Gemma O’Neill. Running from April 17 to April 19, the event, which centres around “powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter, and unforgettable experiences”, will see Meghan and Gemma discuss “life, parenting, relationships, building a global business and navigating a public persona”.
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