Royal biographer Hugo Vickers has sparked conversation with his prediction that Prince Harry may eventually return to the United Kingdom without Meghan Markle, though he suggests such a homecoming could be years away.
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive podcast, Vickers shared his view that the Duke of Sussex will one day leave his California life behind for a permanent return to British soil. When royal editor Matt Wilkinson asked where he believed the Sussexes would be in two decades, the historian offered a striking forecast.
“I think he’ll come home, and if he comes home, we must be very nice to him because he won’t particularly want to,” Vickers said during the podcast appearance.
The royal author and historian suggested that King Charles III has maintained an open invitation for his younger son to return to royal duties. Vickers pointed to Harry’s previous performance as a working royal, noting the prince appeared content in that role before his 2020 departure from the monarchy alongside Meghan.
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have built a new life in Montecito, California, where they reside in a $29 million mansion with their two children, six-year-old Prince Archie and four-year-old Princess Lilibet. The couple has not visited the UK together since attending the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022.
Harry has made solo trips to Britain, including a visit to St Paul’s Cathedral in London on May 8, 2024, for the Invictus Games 10th anniversary. The duke officially moved his primary residence out of the UK and claimed the US as his home, a shift that marked another step in his separation from royal life.
Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield weighed in on Vickers’ prediction, suggesting any return would not happen in the near future. She emphasized that Harry would not leave his children behind in America while they are young, placing any potential homecoming at least two decades away.
Bronte Coy, senior entertainment and royal reporter at News.com.au, acknowledged the complexity of Harry’s situation during the podcast discussion. She noted the unique position the prince occupies, suggesting that if his marriage were to end, he would face an uncertain future given that only a small handful of people share his extraordinary profile.
Vickers also addressed the broader context of Harry’s relationship with the royal family. He suggested that King Charles has left the door open for reconciliation, though he acknowledged that Harry appears to believe the royal family should apologize to him rather than the other way around.
The royal author pointed out that Harry has more hope of reconciliation with his father than with his brother, Prince William. The rift between the two princes remains a significant obstacle to any potential return to the royal fold.
Royal author Tom Quinn previously revealed that Harry and Meghan once proposed a six-month plan that would have allowed them to split their time between the UK and the United States. The proposal, reportedly initiated primarily by Meghan during the 2020 Megxit negotiations, would have seen them serve as working royals for six months in Britain before spending the remaining six months in America.
Queen Elizabeth II ultimately rejected this arrangement, making clear that the couple had to choose whether they were fully in or out of the monarchy. “You’re either in or out,” the late monarch reportedly told them. King Charles has maintained this position during his reign, which began following the Queen’s death in September 2022.
Despite the speculation about a potential return, sources close to the Sussexes have indicated that Meghan would never consider rejoining the royal family. The couple continues to focus on their life in California, where they have pursued various business ventures and humanitarian projects.
The conversation around Harry’s future relationship with the royal family continues to evolve as the monarchy navigates its own transitions under King Charles. Whether Vickers’ prediction will prove accurate is uncertain, but the royal biographer’s comments have reignited discussion about the possibility of Harry’s eventual return to his homeland.
