Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced they are moving back to the UK later this month, but royal experts say the Duke of Sussex still has some distance to go to repair his relationship with his brother Prince William
Royal observers were left astonished when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle revealed their plans to move from the US to an undisclosed private, non-royal property outside London later this month. Andrew Morton, who penned a controversial 1992 biography of Harry’s mother – Diana, Princess of Wales – suggests it’s hardly unexpected that Harry is returning to the UK, having sent multiple “smoke signals” about a potential reconciliation over the past year.
Nevertheless, he notes: “What is surprising is the speed with which they’ve moved… I find it amazing that they’ve chosen schools, somewhere to live. move the whole place out without sticking their toe in the water first.”
While some headway may have been achieved with his father King Charles, Harry might encounter far greater difficulty in repairing relations with William, given his public criticism of the Royal Family while his wife, Princess Catherine, and the King were both fighting cancer. Speaking on Times Radio, Andrew said: “I think William has been deeply hurt by what Harry wrote and said about him, especially given the medical condition of Catherine and his father.
“This is a word I would like to use in relation to this relationship. William felt utterly abandoned and that word was used by someone very close to William. I think it’s going to take a long, long time for him to recover from that.”
Prince Harry and Meghan’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have reportedly been registered at British schools. It is understood the Sussexes will not be taking up residence in royal properties and their position will remain as it is, rather than adopting a “half-in-half-out” arrangement.
The King, who is still living with cancer, was first made aware of the news on Sunday, just three days before it entered the public domain, but is believed to be pleased at the prospect of spending more time with the family both in private and personal settings.
He held a meeting with Harry and his family in July, when the Duke of Sussex travelled to the country to mark one year until his Invictus Games commences in Birmingham. The relationship with his father appears to have strengthened.
Andrew believes Harry will thrive by coming back to his home country. He said: “He’s back with his friends, his family… members of his family that he still gets on with, obviously not William, and he can do his charity work.
“He’s got the Invictus Games coming up in Birmingham next year. That’s going to take a lot of organising. So, he’s a happy camper.”
William, by contrast, is reported to remain “smouldering with anger” towards his brother over remarks made during their six-year separation, according to BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond. Before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s shocking revelation, Jennie forecast that we would witness more of Harry on British soil: “He wants more of a foothold here and less drama. It’s a novel idea because Harry and drama have walked hand in hand for the past few years.
“Much of that has been of his own making, but next year is going to be a flashpoint because it will be the 30th anniversary of the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. All eyes will be on two warring brothers.
“Will William and Harry finally stand side by side at such a poignant memorial event – several are expected to be organised by charity The Diana Award – or will their bitter estrangement continue? Either scenario will be a drama.”
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