Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's reported plan to establish a new home base in Britain is renewing questions about their relationship with the royal family, with public-relations expert Mark Borkowski warning that a return accompanied by the couple's previous level of media attention could create a "three-ring circus" and complicate efforts to repair ties.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to spend an extended period in the U.K. with Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, according to multiple reports. The children are reportedly expected to begin school in Britain in September, while Harry and Meghan would live in a privately owned residence rather than a royal property.
The reported arrangement would represent the Sussex family's most significant return to Britain since Harry and Meghan stepped away from senior royal duties six years ago and settled in California. They are expected to retain their Montecito home as well as a vacation property in Portugal, effectively creating a transatlantic family arrangement.
Borkowski cautioned that the success of such an arrangement could depend heavily on how Harry and Meghan manage the publicity surrounding their return. "If we are going to see the typical Harry and Meghan three-ring circus, then we know what happens when that is played out," he said, adding that it leads to "massive disruption."
The PR expert said the royal family could be reluctant to accommodate the Sussexes if their return revives the public disputes that followed their departure from royal life. "Whatever they need to do to be welcomed back into the royal fold, they will have to make those efforts themselves," Borkowski said.
King Charles was informed of the couple's relocation plans on Sunday, Aug. 16, according to the reports. There is no indication that either Harry or Meghan intends to resume duties as a working royal, and their official position outside the institution isn't expected to change.
The reported move follows Harry's visit to Britain in July to promote the Invictus Games, which are scheduled to take place in Birmingham next year. Harry, Meghan and their children also reportedly met with King Charles during their summer visit, an encounter that has fueled speculation that relations between father and son may be improving after years of estrangement.
A British residence would give Harry and Meghan their first regular U.K. home since they gave up Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. The residence, which Queen Elizabeth II had made available to the couple, ceased to be their British base in 2023 following the publication of Harry's memoir, "Spare."
The memoir intensified tensions inside the royal family by detailing private conversations and Harry's grievances with the institution. His relationship with Prince William has remained particularly strained, making any broader family reconciliation considerably more complicated than an improvement in Harry's relationship with Charles alone.
Borkowski said the return shouldn't automatically be interpreted as evidence that those disputes have been resolved. He warned that if the Sussexes "repeat the sins of the past," resistance within the royal household could intensify rather than diminish.
Reports have suggested Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, remain wary of the prospect of a closer Sussex presence in Britain. No public statement from William or Catherine confirming such concerns was included in the source material, however, and claims about their private reaction remain unverified.
The location of Harry and Meghan's prospective British residence hasn't been disclosed. The Cotswolds has surfaced in speculation, but no property has been confirmed, and IBTimes UK said it couldn't independently verify claims about where the family would live.
Details surrounding Archie and Lilibet's schooling are similarly being kept private. If the reported September enrollment proceeds, however, it would represent a substantial change for the children and give Harry a more permanent reason to spend time in Britain beyond his charitable work and occasional royal-family visits.
