Twenty-nine years after Princess Diana’s death, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to the United Kingdom could once again spark conflict within the British royal family.
Të lidhura
None found
Six years after stepping down from royal duties and moving to California, Harry is preparing to live in Britain again. According to reports, the couple have found a home outside London, while their two children have been enrolled in school and are expected to begin classes in September.
The prince was only 12 years old when he walked behind his mother’s coffin during her funeral. Now, his return is being closely watched, not least because of his strained relationships with members of the royal family.
British public opinion is divided over the development. A YouGov poll showed that 33% of Britons do not support the Sussexes’ return, 21% are in favor, while 45% said they did not know whether they approved or not. The poll was conducted on August 20 and involved 5,810 British adults.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no longer considered working members of the royal family, having stepped back from official duties in 2020. For this reason, the couple are not expected to receive a royal residence or undertake public duties.
In July, Harry, Meghan and their children met King Charles at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire. Queen Camilla was also present at the meeting.
Despite Harry’s meeting with his father, Prince William has not publicly commented on his brother’s return to Britain. Reports about the relationship between the two brothers have been marked by tensions for years.
Peter Hunt, a former BBC royal correspondent, has expressed concern that Harry and Meghan’s return could further deepen divisions within the royal family.
According to Hunt, in the long term, two centers of influence could emerge within the monarchy: one associated with William and the other with Harry. On the other hand, living in his home country could give Harry the opportunity to improve his relationship with his father, while his presence would make it more difficult for William to avoid reconciling with his brother.
Princess Diana died in August 1997 at the age of 36. The sight of 12-year-old Harry walking behind her coffin, between his father Charles and his uncle Earl Spencer, moved millions of Britons.
Years later, Harry said that no child should be made to walk behind their mother’s coffin.
Following Diana’s death, he followed the path set out by royal protocol, studied at Eton and served in the British Army until 2015. During that period, he completed two tours in Afghanistan and left the army with the rank of captain.
Harry later spoke publicly about his mental health struggles and his use of alcohol and drugs as ways of coping with his pain.
In the documentary “The Me You Can’t See,” made with Oprah Winfrey, he said that the years between the ages of 28 and 32 were among the most difficult periods of his life. According to his account, he experienced panic attacks, sweating and anxiety before public engagements, while using alcohol and drugs to disconnect from his feelings.
Harry has also said that Diana’s death was not discussed within the royal family and that he was expected to deal with the trauma and media pressure alone.
Harry and Meghan met in 2016 through a mutual friend. Two years later, in May 2018, they married at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, was born a year later, while their daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, was born in June 2021.
However, the couple’s relationship with the royal family deteriorated. On January 8, 2020, Harry and Meghan announced that they would step back from royal duties and seek financial independence.
They initially moved to Canada before settling in the United States.
Harry’s autobiography, “Spare,” was published in January 2023 and prompted strong reactions within the royal family.
In the book, the Duke of Sussex addressed his relationship with William, as well as their father’s marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles. He revealed that both brothers had opposed Charles’s marriage to Camilla but later accepted their father’s decision.
Harry and Meghan’s return to Britain is therefore being seen as a new chapter for the monarchy. The memory of Diana, the difficulties Harry has endured and his rift with William remain significant elements of his public story.
