It would appear that Prince Harry has left the UK for good to begin his new, more private, life in the US with Meghan Markle and their two children.
The rift between Harry and the rest of the British Royal Family has been a central talking point for the last two years, but it seems like things are finally started to cool off. A more optimistic person that I might be inclined to think that there’s hope yet that Harry can repair the damaged relationships with the likes of his brother and father.
Harry has visited the UK several times since moving across the Atlantic, including once for the funeral of his grandfather, Prince Philip, and again for the unveiling of a statue to honor his late mother, Princess Diana.
If reports are to be believed, Harry and Meghan don’t want anything to do with royal life anymore. And yet Harry might return to England in the event of Queen Elizabeth’s passing. That, according to royal expert and author Tina Brown, who claims that Harry might eventually return to the UK – with or without his wife, Meghan.
In the last few months, Harry and Meghan’s future has been a central talking point. Queen Elizabeth still hasn’t yet met their youngest child – and her granddaughter – Lilibet. According to the Express, neither has Prince Charles, who would love for Harry and Meghan to visit the UK as he wants to spend time with his grandchildren.
Harry & Meghan – security issues in the UK
The news outlet reported that Charles is “desperate” to meet his grandchildren. He has even invited Harry and his family to stay with him during their visit.
As it happens, staying with his father might be the only choice for Harry if he and Meghan were to visit the UK. Why? Well, because of the couple’s security concerns.
It all started the day before Harry attended the unveiling of a statue to commemorate his late mother, Princess Diana, last year. There, he met seriously ill children at the WellChild garden party in Kew Gardens, West London, though paparazzi photographers reportedly chased his car as he was leaving.
It isn’t clear whether that specific incident is why Harry and Meghan don’t feel satisfied concerning their safety in the UK. They issued a statement through their legal counselors claiming that they need protection if they’re to return to British shores.
The Daily Mail reported that Harry had sought a judicial review of a Home Office decision not to allow him to pay for police protection while in the UK. Shortly after, the couple’s legal representatives issued a statement, saying that Harry “inherited a security risk at birth, for life.”
In the US, Harry and Meghan have a private security team. According to reports, however, they don’t have adequate jurisdiction to protect them while they’re in the UK. The aforementioned statement details that Harry and his family are not willing to return to his UK home without added protection.
Personally fund security team for their family
“While his role within the Institution has changed, his profile as a member of the Royal Family has not. Nor has the threat to him and his family,” the statement read.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex personally fund a private security team for their family, yet that security cannot replicate the necessary police protection needed while in the UK. In the absence of such protection, Prince Harry and his family are unable to return to his home.”
When Harry and Meghan were still official members of the Royal Family, they received – as the rest of the Firm does – police protection funded by taxpayer money. They lost that privilege when they stepped back from royal duties in March 2020.
The hope is that Harry, Meghan, and their two children, will return to the UK when Queen Elizabeth celebrates her Platinum Jubilee. That’s set to be a huge celebration that will take place this summer.
The event would not only be a chance to reunite the entire Royal Family, but also for Lilibet and Archie to play with their cousins, Prince William’s children George, Charlotte, and Louis.
We can only imagine how delighted the Queen would be by their presence, since she hasn’t even met Lilibet, who was coincidentally named after her.
Harry “refuse” to set Archie & Lilibet at risk
A source told US Weekly that it’s essential to Harry and Meghan that their children have a loving relationship with their cousins. Therefore, a trip back to the UK seems to be something they desire. That said, they won’t go if the security problems remain unsolved.
“Harry has his heart set on returning to the UK to see the queen with Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet, but that will only happen if the government takes the appropriate measures to protect his family,” an insider told the US news outlet.
“He refuses to put them at risk. Their safety comes before anything else.”
The insider added: “Harry and Meghan are doing everything they can to make the world a better place and feel it would be wrong to rob their children of the opportunity of getting to know their cousins.
“It’s obviously difficult because of the distance factor, so Harry sweetly organized a special Zoom call with Prince William so that the cousins could get to see each other.”
As things stand, Prince Harry is said to be seeking a review of the decision not to allow him to pay for his police protection. He believes that it’s necessary if his family is to return to the UK.
“The UK will always be Prince Harry’s home and a country he wants his wife and children to be safe. With the lack of police protection comes too great a personal risk,” the statement read.
Harry and Meghan to attend Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
“Prince Harry hopes that his petition – after close to two years of pleas for security in the UK – will resolve this situation.”
Of course, the Royal Family have endured a rough couple of years, what with broken relationships within the Firm and the passing of Prince Philip. Not only that, but the Queen herself has also gone through a challenging period with regards to her health.
Last year, she canceled events and trips because of a back injury, and then caught COVID-19. Today, the 96-year-old is celebrating an incredible 70 years on the throne; her Platinum Jubilee will be celebrated in June. As stands, it isn’t yet clear whether Harry – and the rest of his family – will appear.
According to The Telegraph, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been invited to stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, though they will have no “formal role” in the event.
Yet while reports regarding Harry apparently having made plans to attend the celebration continue to come to light, it might just be that Harry and Meghan aren’t welcome after all. That, at least, is according to royal expert and columnist Richard Eden.
“I really get the impression that Harry and Meghan are loving all the speculation about whether they’ll come for the Jubilee or not,” he told Mail Online’s show Palace Confidential.
Harry to return to the UK and the Royal family?
“What should be the wonderful celebrations of the Queen’s amazing long reign, instead, it’s sort of becoming this saga or will-they-won’t-they-come?”
“I think [the family feud] tragic for her. The last thing she wants is these ongoing, bitter rows with her own grandchildren and the family,” editor Richard Kat added.
“They had so much trouble in the 1990s which they had hoped they had put behind them, but this is somehow even worse and it must be enormously difficult for her and quite despairing.”
Time will tell what will unfold as the Queen celebrates her Jubilee. The legendary monarch is reported to have been in ill health of late, so nothing is guaranteed. Last year, speculation even turned to what would happen if she was to pass away.
In 2021, Politico revealed that there is already a plan for the moment Queen Elizabeth passes away.
No matter when that time comes, Queen Elizabeth will be honored as one of, if not the most iconic figure in British history. However, royal expert and author Tina Brown – writer of the bombshell new royal book The Palace Papers – claims her death may result in an identity crisis within the Royal Family.
Moreover, it might mean that Prince Harry makes an unexpected return to the fold – with or without Meghan.
“I don’t see Meghan ever wanting to go back”
Speaking on New York Times podcast Sway, Tina Brown said that if Harry came back to England, it would mean that the couple would enter into a commuter arrangement to have a long-distance marriage.
“I think that Harry is going to want to come back when the Queen dies to serve his country. And I think they will find a way to reel him in,” Brown said, as quoted by The Mirror.
“And it’s possible that Meghan – maybe they will have a commuter arrangement. I don’t know. I don’t see Meghan ever wanting to go back. She disliked England.”
She added: “Harry was beloved, actually, by the British people. People adored Meghan when she came into the mix. So it was actually very, very sad for everybody that it went so wrong because they actually need Harry and Meghan now.”
Tina Brown also said that while the relationship between Harry and Meghan and the rest of the Firm has been rocky, Queen Elizabeth would definitely want Harry there for her Jubilee this summer.
“I actually think there is a Harry-shaped hole in the royal family now,” Brown said on the New York Times podcast.
“The Queen is failing, and she’s very frail. They kind of need Harry and Meghan to bring that star power and to be on the balcony at the Jubilee.”
What do you make of this? Do you think that Prince Harry will return to the Royal Family in the future or not? Please, give us your opinions in the comment section.
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