Where will they live? What relationship will they have with the royal family? What are they going to do? The announcement Thursday evening of the return to the United Kingdom of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan had the effect of a bomb and raises multiple questions.
Where will they settle?
Harry, 41, and Meghan have not officially communicated about their return and few details have leaked about their move.
On Wednesday, the Duke of Sussex appeared all smiles in Washington for a round table with veterans. But made no comment.
According to British media, the Sussexes, who left the United Kingdom in 2020 with a bang, at odds with the royal family, must settle by the end of August in a private, non-royal residence, probably outside London.
Among the possible points of departure mentioned is the Northampton region, north of London, where the Althorp estate belonging to the Spencers, the family of the late Princess Diana, Harry’s mother, is located. Or the Cotswolds region, near Oxford, popular with celebrities.
Harry, Meghan and their children Archie (7) and Lilibet (5) spent time there in July, for their first family trip to the UK since 2022.
According to British media, the two children are enrolled in an unspecified school for the start of the September school year.
Why are they coming back?
The son of Charles III has often said he hoped for “reconciliation” with his family.
For royal expert Ed Owens, “this is one of the reasons” for their return. But the main one, according to him, is family: “they want their children to grow up in the United Kingdom”.
Less magnanimous, the tabloid “Daily Mail” judges that their return “will probably be perceived as the most striking admission of the failure of their great plans to conquer America”.
After a lucrative Netflix deal and other commitments, Meghan reinvented herself as a businesswoman with her business “As Ever” selling jams, candles and tea.
What relations with the royal family?
The king was only notified on Sunday of the couple’s decision, but welcomes the opportunity to see more of the family in a personal capacity, the palace said.
A confirmation of an easing of relations between Charles III, still being treated for cancer, and his youngest son, who have seen little of each other since 2022.
In July, the king and his wife Camilla – badly scratched by Harry in his memoirs in 2023 – received the prince and his family.
Things look more complicated with William, heir to the throne and Harry’s older brother. The two men remain at odds, and William did not react to the announcement of his return.
“The gap between them is very deep (…) (William) is very unhappy in my opinion,” said royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams to AFP.
What are they going to do?
Despite leaving the United Kingdom, Harry continues to sponsor several charities based in his native country.
During his stay in July, he participated in several public engagements, which were favorably received by the media.
He is also overseeing the organization in 2027 of the Invictus Games in Birmingham (central England), an international sporting event that he created for injured veterans.
Could they become working members of the royal family again? No change in official status is planned, the palace said.
The reaction of the British public also remains uncertain. The Sussexes are unpopular, with only 22% of Britons having a positive opinion of Meghan and 33% of Harry, according to a recent YouGov poll.
“I think it’s a good thing (…) especially for the children,” Charles Donkin, who works in finance, commented to AFP on Thursday. Isha Anderson, 27, an employee of a FinTech, although “indifferent” to their return, nevertheless wishes them “good luck”, especially in front of the media.
What security?
By leaving the UK, Harry and Meghan lost their systematic police protection. The prince has since denounced a decision which, according to him, endangers his children.
He paid for his own private security when traveling in the UK.
It is likely that some of the issues relating to the security of Harry and his family “have been resolved” to allow their return, said royal expert Robert Hardman to the BBC.
