Royal expert's verdict on Meghan Markle and Harry’s UK return - ‘she’ll call the shots’

A reported return to Britain

According to multiple reports, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are preparing to relocate to Britain with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The couple left the UK in 2019, moving first to Canada and then to the United States, where they have been based in California for the past six years. The move back, described as imminent, would mark a significant life change for the family, according to The News International.

The couple is said to be looking for a "forever home" in the UK, in addition to their Montecito mansion and a holiday home in Portugal. A PR and crisis team has reportedly set up base ahead of the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, which Harry founded. Some PR experts, described as unrelated to Meghan, have offered insights on how she might win back public favour, as reported by The News International, citing a source who spoke alongside the Daily Express.

Acting comeback speculation

Meghan, a former star of the US legal drama Suits, is reportedly in discussions about a possible return to television, linked to a potential third season of Guy Ritchie's Netflix show The Gentlemen. The Hollywood Reporter has described the discussions as advanced, though other reports stress that no contract is in place, no character has been confirmed, and Netflix has not officially renewed the series for a third season, as reported by The Canberra Times.

The Sun has reported that Meghan could play a "temptress" on the show, although that description has not been confirmed by Netflix, according to the same report. Meghan has already returned to acting with a cameo as herself in the forthcoming comedy Close Personal Friends, which also stars Brie Larson, Lily Collins, Jack Quaid and Henry Golding.

Royal expert's verdict

Royal expert Hugo Vickers weighed in on the speculation, offering a measured assessment of what a role might entail. "I suspect that there won't be sort of raunchy scenes and things, but I could be wrong," he said. "I think it's very unlikely because I think that she will consider that her mere presence in the series will justify the fee that she will be being paid and therefore there's no need to go too far."

Vickers, who has written extensively on the royal family, suggested Meghan would be actively involved in shaping her role. "Knowing her ways, I'm sure she will stipulate all sorts of things and I think she is capable of putting all sorts of boundaries up," he said. He acknowledged that actors are "meant to do what they're told to, frankly, in these series," but added: "If it demands somewhat more, I don't know how to put it, more sort of inappropriate, perhaps that's the right word, appearance by her, then I guess that will possibly happen. But I don't think it will. I think she'll be putting all sorts of clauses and boundaries in, because that's the way she operates."

Asked whether Meghan would have control over her portrayal, Vickers was unequivocal: "I think she'll call the shots, yes I do. Definitely."

A strategic approach to public perception

The News International reports that the couple's return is not without challenges. A source described Meghan's mindset as realistic: "Meghan knows this is not going to be easy, and she's going to be eating humble pie." The source added, "She's been told this is her time to step back and let Harry do the talking, as after all, this is his home, and he is the star here."

The source also suggested that reconciliation with the royal family is a key consideration: "Harry and Meghan know that there will never be a way back into the royal fold unless they can make things better with William and Kate." Earlier reports indicate Prince William wants an apology before any reconciliation, according to The News International.

The couple's departure from royal duties, dubbed "Megxit" in the press, involved a proposed half-in, half-out arrangement in which they would be financially independent but still attend royal engagements. That proposal was rejected, and the summit where it was discussed was written about in Prince Harry's memoir Spare, which also included an account of a physical altercation with Prince William, described as the "dog-bowl incident."

While polls cited by The News International suggest the British public may be demanding, the specifics of the couple's plans remain largely unconfirmed. The reports from both outlets rely on anonymous sources and industry speculation, with the only named voices being Hugo Vickers and the Hollywood Reporter's characterisation of the discussions.