ROYAL FAMILY NEWSPrince Harry and Meghan Meghan's U.K. Return Reportedly Has King Charles' Quiet Blessing, While Prince William Is 'Derailed'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly received quiet encouragement from King Charles to return to Britain.
Sept. 5 2026, Published 9:33 a.m. ET
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's move back to Britain wasn't just their decision; according to a friend of King Charles, he quietly encouraged it. But not everyone in the family is thrilled about it.
The Sussexes relocated to the U.K. with Archie and Lilibet for an extended stay.
The Sussexes arrived on August 26 for an extended stay in the U.K., with their children, Archie and Lilibet, set to start at a prep school in the Cotswolds near the family's new home.
The move follows the resolution of Harry's legal battles, including his defeat in a civil case brought by the publisher of Daily Mail, which left him and his co-plaintiffs facing a potential more than $47 million bill.
A King's Quiet Nudge
King Charles reportedly remained supportive while prioritizing the monarchy’s future.
A friend of King Charles told The Daily Beast that nothing "concrete" toward Harry's return would have been possible without those cases being settled.
According to the king's friend, Harry was "informally encouraged by King Charles to return to the U.K. because the king believes that the royal family is stronger united.
"The king's faith has played a part, but ultimately this is a strategic decision for the good of the family,” the friend added.
Asked whether William approved, the friend said Charles had made clear that William and the monarchy's future remain his "top priority." A friend of William's declined to discuss the matter, continuing what's been described as the Waleses' policy of ignoring the Sussexes.
- King Charles Secretly Pushed for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Return to the U.K., Source Claims: 'A Strategic Decision for the Family'
- King Charles Urged Harry to End Feud and Return After Crushing $47 Million Court Defeat, Source Says
- Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s U.K. Return Is a 'Nightmare for the Palace' Because 'They Can't Be Controlled,' Royal Expert Says
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
William and Kate ‘Derailed’
Sources claimed Prince William and Kate Middleton were blindsided by the timing of the move.
A source told Vanity Fair that William and Kate Middleton have been "derailed" by the sudden return.
"There's a sense that William is going to have to be watching over his shoulder the whole time," the source said, noting the timing coincides with son George starting at Eton.
William and Charles are said to be "on the same page" and "completely aligned" that Harry and Meghan will remain private individuals with no royal duties or change to their non-working-royal status.
Security Questions and What's Next
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return raised fresh questions about security and royal family reconciliation.
Harry lost a legal appeal for taxpayer-funded security in May 2025, but the Home Office is expected to review the family's security arrangements now that they've returned.
Meghan is reportedly still weighing a role in Guy Ritchie's Netflix drama The Gentlemen, while Harry plans to focus on next year's Invictus Games and his charity work.
A source told Vanity Fair that Charles is "genuinely happy" Harry is back but is "dreading" the prospect of that security fight resurfacing.
Royal biographer Andrew Morton suggested Harry's return could eventually push the brothers toward reconciliation, though he cautioned tensions "are greater now than they have ever been."
