Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, have faced ongoing tensions with the royal family since stepping back from royal duties in January 2020. The couple relocated to Montecito, California, where they now lead a vastly different life compared to their time in the UK, raising their two children, Lilibet and Archie.
Not long after their departure from the UK, the couple began sharing their side of the story. Their widely-discussed interview with Oprah, a Netflix series, and Harry’s memoir Spare became major global headlines. The Sussexes didn’t hold back, making numerous allegations against members of the royal family. These explosive claims painted a clear picture of the strained relations and laid the groundwork for the current state of limited contact between the two sides.
Since leaving royal life, Meghan has made only a few visits back to the UK. However, there is speculation that she might return in May, potentially marking the start of reconciliation between Harry and Meghan and Prince William and Kate Middleton. Yet, the path to mending these relationships may be difficult, as a royal expert has suggested Meghan Markle has two conditions, including a “groveling apology,” before she considers making amends.
After settling in the US, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quickly appeared in a high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey. This interview marked the beginning of a very public and intense feud between the Sussexes and the royal family, with Prince William and Kate Middleton taking prominent roles on the UK side.
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle
Harry and Meghan featured in their own Netflix mini-series, and later, following the release of Harry’s book Spare, tensions escalated.
Prince William and Kate Middleton were mentioned in the book, as Harry shared various personal insights about the royal family. He expressed how his experience as the “spare” within the royal family was far from pleasant.
Meanwhile, members of the royal family, including Prince William, chose not to respond or comment on Harry’s criticisms. As of now, Prince William is only willing to speak to his brother if he receives a genuine apology, according to Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine.
“William would be upset that Harry yet again has chosen to make this visit to see his father a PR opportunity,” she told The Sun. “As far as William is concerned, he has absolutely no interest in speaking to Harry until Harry behaves like a gentleman and apologizes for the years of rudeness and slurs he has aimed at William and the Princess of Wales.”
“William must be privately furious thinking over all the years how he supported Harry, and at this one moment in his life when his 75-year-old father and wife of 13 years are both potentially seriously unwell, all Harry can think about is Harry and using it as an opportunity to announce his arrival and expect to see William.”
Both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, but the Duchess did not accompany her husband to King Charles’ coronation last year.
“Megan doesn’t feel guilty about Kate”
Despite attending the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, Harry quickly left to return to the US. If reports are to be believed, the royal family was reportedly delighted by his swift departure.
King Charles appears to be the most eager to see his two sons reconcile, not just for his own peace of mind but also for their future. Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle were once viewed as key figures in the monarchy’s future alongside their husbands, but their time together did not end on good terms.
So, is reconciliation between the two couples even a possibility? Royal expert Tom Quinn believes it’s highly unlikely.
Speaking to The Mirror, Quinn explained that Meghan felt Kate didn’t offer her enough support during her time as a working royal. Additionally, he claimed Meghan thought the two should have bonded, given their shared experiences as “outsiders” marrying into the royal family.
“Meghan doesn’t feel guilty about Kate, because she feels that Kate should’ve been the one person in the royal family to back her against every difficulty,” Tom Quinn told The Mirror. “Apart from anything else, Meghan knew Kate was an outsider, so she just couldn’t understand why Kate always towed the royal line rather than supporting her, Meghan, the other outsider.”
Harry and Meghan reportedly reached out to Kate Middleton to send their well wishes after her abdominal surgery. However, it’s said that they learned about Kate’s cancer through news reports.
Some suggest that Kate Middleton’s health struggles could serve as a pathway to mending her relationship with Meghan Markle. However, Quinn argues the relationship has become too “poisonous” to repair.
“Kate’s cancer diagnosis has been a real shock for Meghan, but she can see no way to patch up the relationship simply because it has become so poisonous,” he said. “She also doesn’t want people saying that she is trying to make things up with Kate just because Kate is ill. Meghan still feels Kate was in the wrong and should apologize before they try to build bridges.”
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle to visit UK?
Prince Harry recently made a brief trip to the UK after his father, King Charles, was diagnosed with cancer. The two reportedly had a short meeting at Sandringham, though Prince William was not present. The brothers are not on speaking terms, and despite Harry allegedly offering to assist the royal family with engagements during this difficult time, William would “never agree to it.”
The Sussexes may soon return to the UK, but it will be unrelated to the royal family. On May 8, the Invictus Games anniversary event will take place, featuring a service at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
Prince Harry, the founder of the Invictus Games, is expected to attend. According to Express, Meghan is “listed as a guest” for the event.
Sources informed the tabloid, “Both Harry and Meghan are listed as guests, and a speech has been scheduled, but there is still a question mark over whether Meghan will make an appearance. Her name has been penciled in as a TBC (to be confirmed).”
Although relations between Harry and Meghan and William and Kate remain strained, royal expert Tom Quinn claims that the Prince and Princess of Wales are surprisingly the ones attempting to mend the situation.
In a separate interview with the Mirror, Quinn stated that Prince William and Kate Middleton “suggested” Harry and Meghan bring their children to the UK in connection with the Invictus Games event.
“William and Kate have suggested that Meghan and Harry bring the children and that the two couples and their families try to make up, but the suggestion is not leading anywhere so far,” Quinn told the Mirror.
Meghan Markle fears for her children’s safety in the UK
According to Express, while Meghan is currently listed as a guest, it seems she has changed her mind, largely due to concerns about her children.
A source revealed to OK! Magazine that although Meghan initially hoped to accompany Harry to the UK in May, she is now hesitant to bring Archie and Lilibet because of safety concerns.
“It’s now got to the point where Meghan doesn’t want to come to the UK with the children. She just doesn’t feel safe. The situation is now about whether the family should attend with increased security or Harry should go it alone,” the source explained.
Reportedly, Harry has urged his wife to reconsider, telling her, “I don’t want to do this alone.”
“Harry doesn’t want to keep making solo trips to the UK,” the source continued. “He would prefer it if the entire family made regular visits to see his family and build bridges, but there is so much going on behind the scenes that it just isn’t possible at the moment.”
The source also added, “Both Harry and Meghan were planning to come to the UK, but when the exact time and date of their appearance were made public, she started to rethink that idea.”
Meghan Markle has ‘two demands’ before reconciling with William & Kate
Meghan’s concerns about returning to the UK go beyond the children’s safety. According to a source from OK! Magazine, the Duchess doesn’t want to “be thrown back into an anxiety-fueled visit to England where she feels like she’s not wanted.” Meanwhile, Harry reportedly feels torn between supporting his wife and his sister-in-law, Kate Middleton.
As mentioned, Prince William is said to be furious with his brother, accusing him of “selling secrets” about the royal family. Bringing Kate Middleton into his book further strained their relationship, and William reportedly wants nothing to do with Harry after “throwing the family under the bus.”
Unsurprisingly, the feud remains unresolved. Prince William is demanding an apology from Harry, while Harry also expects one from his brother.
Royal expert Tom Quinn points out that two major demands are standing in the way of reconciliation between the two couples—and Meghan Markle is unwilling to accept the current situation.
“Harry would like a reconciliation, but supports his wife completely and until she feels that the royal family have been sufficiently nice to her – and grovelingly apologised for the past – it’s not going to happen,” Quinn explained to The Mirror, as reported by Daily Record.
Additionally, the royal expert suggested that Meghan is preventing Harry from engaging in peace talks.
“The suggestion is not leading anywhere”
“There has been a shift here since Kate’s illness. Harry and Meghan do feel they need to extend an olive branch, but Meghan’s sense of grievance is still preventing anything really meaningful happening. Illness often brings warring family members together, and there have been hopes at Kensington Palace that Kate’s illness might do it,” the royal expert stated, also mentioning there’s “no way” Meghan is bringing her children to the UK.
“William and Kate have suggested that Meghan and Harry bring the children and that the two couples and their families try to make up, but the suggestion is not leading anywhere so far,” Quinn added.
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