Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly preparing to return to the UK with their two children after spending six years in California.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to bring Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, with them. The family will reportedly live in a private residence rather than a royal property.
Former royal butler Grant Harrold has shared his thoughts on the reported move, claiming that the couple’s life in the United States may not have unfolded as they had hoped.
“It is clear their time in America did not go to plan,” Harrold said. “We see that through the Netflix deal and some of their other commercial decisions. I think there are multiple factors at play. I suppose the dream life in the US that they imagined didn’t come off.”
Harry and Meghan signed high-profile agreements with Netflix and Spotify after stepping down as senior working royals and moving to the US in 2020. Their projects, however, received mixed reactions, while their partnership with Spotify later came to an end.
Harrold also suggested that Harry may have discussed the move with King Charles as the father and his reportedly working to improve their strained relationship.
“We know Harry and the king have been working on their relationship for the last few months,” he said.
“Even if it was only confirmed [to Charles over] the weekend, I would like to think there has been back and forth between them. I think Harry would have taken his dad’s advice on aspects of the move and taken his pointers.”
Harrold added that Harry would likely want to avoid causing further tension with his father.
“Harry knows that doing this behind his dad’s back would cause more upset, and I imagine he’s doing everything he can to keep things sweet at the moment.”
According to reports, Archie and Lilibet are expected to begin attending a nearby school in September.
Details of the family’s security arrangements have not been disclosed. Harry has previously said that he did not feel it was safe to bring his wife and children to the UK without police protection.
Sources claim the Sussex family intends to remain in Britain for an “extended period,” although it is not yet clear whether the reported move will become permanent.
