As the Home Office reviews Harry and Meghan’s access to police protection, Chris Riches asks how other royals might feel if they relocate back to Britain.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could soon be spending more time back in the UK (Image: Getty)

When Prince Harry and Meghan downed royal tools in 2020 they fled for the ‘quiet’ and ‘privacy’ of California – citing security fears if they as much as returned to the UK as a family-of-four. Since then the pair have barely left our screens, with a relentless slew of podcasts, books, tell-all interviews, late-night chat show appearances and bile-inducing ‘at home with’ lifestyle streaming shows.

For his poor older brother Prince William, protective over wife Catherine as she recovers from her 2024 cancer diagnosis, each TV exposé or new book packed with private family conversations adds salt to the wounds. So the idea that Harry and Meghan could soon be spending an awful lot more time in the UK may not fill him with ‘Happy Families’ euphoria – more like awkward dread.

In May, Prince Harry lost a legal case to have his police protection reinstated when visiting the UK – later telling the Beeb it was simply not safe to bring his family back to Blighty.

This doesn’t stop the Sussexes jetting over the Atlantic anytime they want – they still boast millions in the bank from cashing in on his name so can afford a legion of unarmed, private security.

No offence to their famously brittle egos, but if Hollywood superstars can be seen wandering the streets of Soho and Primrose Hill on their tod, then the Sussexes can jet in with a few dozen burly bouncers.

What Harry wants is the status of being a working royal without the ‘working royal’ bit – and for UK taxpayers to fund two US taxpayers’ police protection officers.

Prince Harry ‘cashed in’ on private conversations – and threw Catherine to the wolves (Image: Getty)

Saying the US is safer than the UK is beyond a joke.

In 2003 the US had a murder rate of 5.76 per 100,000 – ours was 0.95 per 100,000 – while 2022 data shows you’re over 100 times more likely to die from gun violence in America than in Britain.

Harry’s stubbornness has meant King Charles has only met the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s daughter Lilibet once before, during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, and their son Archie a handful of times.

After contesting – and losing – a legal challenge in May to the decision-making of a committee called the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) – which authorises security for senior royals on behalf of the Home Office – his lawyers had argued that he had been “singled out” for “inferior treatment”.

Then a senior judge ruled that Prince Harry’s “sense of grievance” over how the decision to alter his security was reached did not amount to a basis for a successful appeal.

Now it’s understood Harry’s access to security is under a new Labour Home Office review, to see if he should automatically receive full police protection on visits to the UK.

A decision is expected next month – just don’t be surprised if the nation forgets where we put our roll of red carpet.

 
William and Catherine will not be thrilled by a Sussex Megxit U-turn (Image: Getty)

In his book Spare, Harry told the world there was a rift between Meghan and the Princess of Wales – or ‘Kate’ as he repeatedly called her in the book, knowing she prefers to be called ‘Catherine’.

Harry also spilled the beans on a private row over bridesmaid dresses in the lead-up to his wedding that left Meghan in tears while Catherine “grimaced” when the duchess borrowed her lip-gloss.

None of these were meant to show Catherine in a good light, especially to Harry’s US audiences. They were also meant to lay the foundation for Meghan being the ultimate victim of a royal ‘establishment’.

Harry then claimed that in a clear-the-air meeting – again also deemed private between the two couples – William “pointed a finger at Meg”, then allegedly blasted: “Well, it’s rude, Meghan. These things are not done here.”

We are led to believe that in response Meghan made a proud stand for all women against the patriarchy by defiantly replying: “If you don’t mind, keep your finger out of my face!”

To me – and many other Brits – his remarks about popular, hardworking and dedicated Catherine and William seemed unnecessary, one-sided and cruel.

So Harry can’t expect that his brother and sister-in-law will be overly thrilled to welcome the Sussexes round for tea and Jammie Dodgers anytime soon.