Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are back in the headlines. Donald Trump just weighed in on their reported return to Britain, and he didn't hold back.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump made his feelings crystal clear. He stated he is "happy about it" while explicitly noting that he is "not a fan" of either the Duke or Duchess of Sussex. He didn't stop there. He accused the couple of showing "great disrespect" to the British Royal Family during their dramatic exit and subsequent media blitz.
If you've been following this royal saga, you know the narrative has taken a massive turn. Let's break down what actually happened, why Trump's comments matter, and what this move back to the UK means for Harry and Meghan.
The Trump Verdict on the Sussex Return
Trump's commentary wasn't just a casual passing remark. It touched on a raw nerve that has defined the Sussex-Windsor relationship for years. When reporters asked him about reports that Harry and Meghan are heading back across the Atlantic after nearly six years living in the United States, Trump offered a blunt assessment.
"I'm happy about it. No, I was not a fan," Trump said.
He contrasted his perspective with his own personal relationships inside the palace walls. Trump frequently pointed to his warm ties with the late Queen Elizabeth II, noting how well he got to know her, alongside his long-standing acquaintance with King Charles III.
His issue wasn't just abstract political preference. It was personal. Trump called out Meghan directly regarding her treatment of senior royals.
"I didn't like the way she acted. I thought she was terribly disrespectful to the Queen, to King Charles," he remarked. He even went so far as to say that if he were in the position of the British monarchy, he wouldn't have welcomed them back. "Maybe I'm different. I wouldn't have taken them back."
The Reality of the Move Back to Britain
Reports surfaced via major outlets like The New York Times that Harry, Meghan, and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, are making the permanent shift back to the UK. King Charles was reportedly informed of the decision last month, though it wasn't a central talking point during their brief meetings earlier this year.
Let's look at the facts of their relocation:
- They spent nearly six years building a life in California, complete with high-profile media deals, Netflix docuseries, and tell-all memoirs like Harry's Spare.
- Upon returning, they intend to stay as non-working royals living private lives.
- They aren't moving back into official royal residences, and their long-term housing arrangements remain under wraps.
- Security remains a massive operational hurdle. Prince Harry has spent years fighting legal battles over police protection in Britain, maintaining that his family isn't safe without it.
Why This Timing Changes Everything
Moving your family across continents is exhausting under normal circumstances. Doing it while carrying the baggage of a fractured global institution is entirely different.
When Harry and Meghan stepped back from senior royal duties in 2020, they wanted financial independence and media freedom. They got it, but at a steep cost to public perception in both the US and the UK. Opinion polls on both sides of the Atlantic have fluctuated wildly.
Trump seizing on this moment to critique them highlights how the Sussexes remain political and cultural lightning rods. They aren't just private citizens living a quiet life; every single geographical shift they make is treated as a global geopolitical event.
What Comes Next for Harry and Meghan
If you are wondering how this transition will play out, look closely at their operational playbook. They aren't rejoining the firm. They won't be standing on Buckingham Palace balconies or cutting ribbons for official patronages.
Instead, they are attempting to thread a needle: living in the UK as private individuals while maintaining their global philanthropic and media footprint. Whether British taxpayers, the British press, and political figures like Trump will let them blend into the background is another story entirely.
Don't expect the drama to die down anytime soon. The return to British soil opens an entirely unpredictable chapter for a couple that has spent the last half-decade running from—and right back into—the spotlight.
