Although Prince Harry has returned to the UK, there is one notable absence that many royal watchers will notice. Meghan Markle, his spouse, has vanished from view.
The Duchess of Sussex has previously made the decision to stay in Montecito with their two kids rather than travel with her husband to the UK.
Given that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are remaining in California, it is commonly assumed that Meghan chose to give her young children first priority while Prince Harry fulfils his obligations in the UK.
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Prince Harry revealed in July the startling reason he is reluctant to bring his wife back to the UK: he is afraid she might be attacked with acid.
During an open interview for ITV’s Tabloids on Trial, the Duke expressed his genuine worries about Meghan’s security. “All it takes is one lone act, or someone who has read these things and decides to act on it, whether that’s with a knife or acid,” Harry said.
“These are real fears for me, and it’s one of the key reasons I won’t bring my wife back to this country.”
In 2020, Prince Harry relocated his family to California. The Prince and Meghan reside in Montecito with their two kids, Princess Lilibet, age three, and Prince Archie, age five.
As the patron of the charity for over 15 years, the Duke was present at the WellChild Awards ceremony on Monday.
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The Duchess’s most recent trip to her husband’s nation of origin was in September 2022. The Sussexes were scheduled to attend the WellChild Awards, but were forced to postpone the occasion due to the passing of Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Instead, they attended the One Young World summit in Manchester.
In order for Harry and Meghan to attend the state funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London, their visit to the UK was extended.
Meghan was never likely to return to the UK anytime soon, as The Telegraph’s Royal Editor Hannah Furness discussed in a previous episode of HELLO!’s A Right Royal Podcast.
“There is quite a heavy narrative that Meghan and the children won’t be coming back until they can resolve this security issue to their liking,” she continues. “But he [Harry] will certainly be coming and going.”
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The Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) decided in February 2020 that the Duke should be granted a higher level of taxpayer-funded protection while he is in the nation. For this reason, the Duke filed a lawsuit against the Home Office.
In an emotional witness statement submitted to the High Court by Harry’s attorneys in December, the Duke gave an explanation of why he and Meghan felt compelled to relocate to the US following their retirement as senior royals in 2020.
He wrote, “My wife and I felt compelled to step back from this role and leave the country in 2020, which was with great sadness for both of us.”
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“My home is in the United Kingdom. My children’s heritage is heavily rooted in the UK, and I want them to feel as at home there as they do in the US, where they currently reside. If there is no way to keep them safe while they are on UK territory, then that cannot occur.
“I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way too.”
