Meghan Markle has no plans to move back to the United Kingdom, according to royal expert Sarah Hewson. Rumors have been circulating that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex might return to the UK nearly five years after stepping down from their royal duties. However, Hewson, a broadcaster and royal correspondent, doubts the former actress has any intention of settling in Britain again.
“All the signs around Meghan are that she really doesn’t have any desire to set foot in this country again,” Hewson said during her appearance on The Sun’s “Royal Exclusive.” She added, “Prince Harry came back for the service at St Paul’s to mark 10 years of the Invictus Games, and they were then heading off on their tour. Meghan dipped into Heathrow Airport and straight back out again; she didn’t come to the UK.”
Prince Harry attended a special service at St. Paul’s Cathedral in May to mark the Invictus Games’ 10th anniversary. Markle didn’t join him on his UK trip but reunited with him shortly after for a three-day trip to Nigeria. Hewson described the situation as a “very sorry mess.”
“It’s sad. Mistakes have been made along the way on both sides,” she said. “But as long as there’s no trust—that’s the fundamental issue here—those conversations they have are going to end up on a breakfast show, a documentary, or in a book. Those conversations just can’t happen.”
Hewson noted that although King Charles has said his door is always open for the Sussexes, she doesn’t see “an actual, physical invitation.” She believes that if Prince Harry and Markle were to inform His Majesty of their plans, he would find it “very difficult” to say “no” to them.
“He doesn’t want this distance with his son, and he certainly doesn’t want this barrier between him and his grandchildren,” Hewson continued. “He met Lilibet just once and Archie only a handful of times. That’s really, really sad.”
British socialite and TV personality Lizzie Cundy previously reacted to rumors that the Sussexes were moving back to the UK, suggesting that if true, it would indicate they have “lost all popularity in the States.”
Royal biographer Hugo Vickers predicted that Prince Harry might return to the UK permanently in 20 years. Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield shared a similar sentiment, adding that there was no way Harry would leave their children with Markle in the U.S.