Prince Harry's possible return to the UK could create new challenges for Prince William and Kate Middleton, particularly as the couple prepares for their future roles at the head of the monarchy.
Royal commentator Victoria Arbiter believes palace officials may need to establish clear boundaries between the Sussexes’ private work and the official duties carried out by senior members of the Royal Family.
Harry has continued supporting charitable causes while living in the United States and would likely maintain that work if he spent more time in Britain. However, Arbiter warned that his public appearances could compete with engagements involving William and Kate.
Royal schedules are normally coordinated carefully to prevent senior family members from overshadowing one another. Since Harry is no longer a working royal, his activities would not necessarily be included in that planning.
“It becomes a conflict of interest for the monarchy,” Arbiter told Nine.com.au.
She said the palace may eventually have to clarify whether Harry and Meghan conduct their work simply as private individuals.
“I think at some point there’s going to have to be very clear lines drawn in terms of clarifying what it is Harry and Meghan do, whether that’s doing it as Harry and Meghan Sussex,” she explained.
Harry will always remain a prince by birth, but Arbiter questioned whether presenting his charitable work under the name “Harry Sussex” could help distinguish it from official royal duties.
“[Harry] will never not be a prince. He will always be a prince of the realm,” she said. “But is it that he does his charitable work as Harry Sussex, just to remove the contrast?”
She added that the issue would ultimately be for King Charles and Buckingham Palace to resolve, acknowledging that the situation would undoubtedly be challenging.
According to Arbiter, Harry’s ability to generate intense public and media interest could make matters particularly frustrating for William.
“William goes to open a community center, and he’ll be pushed off the front pages by Harry because Harry’s clickbait, and Harry’s the soap opera,” she said. “Like Harry or hate him, everyone’s just drawn into this story, and so that’s going to be complicated.”
She suggested similar problems could arise if William were carrying out a diplomatic visit abroad while Harry independently traveled to another country for charitable work.
“I think William will be disappointed by it,” she said.
Arbiter also reflected on William and Kate’s response to the accusations and criticism directed at the Royal Family in recent years. Despite the Sussexes’ interviews, documentaries and memoir revelations, the Prince and Princess of Wales have rarely responded publicly.
William’s brief statement following Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which he said the royals were “very much not a racist family,” was one of the few exceptions. Queen Elizabeth also famously responded to the couple’s claims by saying that “recollections may vary.”
Arbiter believes William’s refusal to engage publicly may have frustrated Harry.
“You’ve seen him saying things almost trying to goad his brother, but William hasn’t done it,” she claimed.
In her view, William and Kate have now moved beyond the family dispute, especially after facing a deeply difficult period involving both Kate’s and King Charles’ cancer diagnoses.
“Cancer resets so much of your perspective,” Arbiter said. “They don’t have room, time, or energy for this negativity and the three-ring circus following the Sussexes everywhere they go.”
She added that William and Kate are focused on their family, charitable initiatives and royal responsibilities after what she described as an emotionally and physically challenging two years.
“I think they’ve moved on,” she said.
Arbitrator also warned that Harry and Meghan could face greater scrutiny over their commercial activities if they returned to Britain. Practices that may be accepted in the United States, such as promoting clothing or products after a charity appearance, could receive a much colder response in the UK.
“You can do this in Australia or America, show up to a charity gig and then merchandise your clothes right after, but you cannot do that in England,” she said. “It will be seen as gauche, classless, and distasteful.”
She concluded that the Sussexes currently enjoy far more freedom in America. Any attempt to establish a stronger presence in Britain would therefore require a careful separation between their private ventures and the work of the monarchy.
