What Harry and Meghan’s ‘half-in’ royal life could look like as they ‘eye up return’ ???
The Sussexes are reportedly hoping for a return to the royal fold – but will they be welcomed back? And what would the future look like for the pair?
They’ve tried the American dream, but now Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seem to be turning back on their self-exile to the States.
Seeing their children reunite with King Charles earlier this month was more than a precious family memory – sources close to Harry say it marked a huge step towards a new ‘agreement’ with the Firm. Pals have suggested that a return to the UK for the couple, in some form, is firmly on the agenda.
Details of what happened during the meeting at Highgrove are scarce – the Sussexes are said to be under strict instruction to keep everything under wraps. But the brief family reunion has apparently buoyed Harry and Meghan into believing they can rekindle their relationship with the royal family – and reverse Megxit.
In return for keeping things private, sources say that the Palace has accepted Harry can carry out charity events and public speaking engagements while in the UK as if he was still a ‘working royal’. It’s believed that there is a ‘growing acceptance’ from the Firm that the Sussexes will still need to continue their commercial ventures in order to fund their lifestyle and private security in sunny Montecito – marking a huge shift in understanding between both camps.
The couple have seen their popularity fade in the US, with lucrative deals with Spotify and Netflix drying up. Meghan, who has big plans to return to TV screens and expand her lifestyle brand into a global powerhouse, is said to be fully supportive of Harry’s desire to reconnect with his roots.
As royal historian Marlene Koenig tells the Mirror: “It is inevitable that Harry would want to spend more time in his homeland with his children. Meghan’s perceptions of the UK have been diluted by the perceived behavior against her. But Harry wants his kids to connect with the UK and, perhaps, with family.
“The trust issue is serious. However, the fact that Charles and the Palace apparently took control of the Highgrove meeting – and there have been no leaks – is a sign that Charles wants to heal this relationship privately.”
A ‘half-in, half-out’ scenario, where the couple would carry on making money in the US and elsewhere, while also carrying out royal engagements in the UK, is something the late Queen expressly forbade. But the couple are reportedly optimistic that if they can meet with the King on a more frequent basis, with their children, a similar deal could be on the table.
So what could the Sussexes ‘deal’ actually look like? Let’s take a closer look…
Where would they live?
Harry and Meghan were famously evicted from Frogmore Cottage after moving to the US on a permanent basis. Much like Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, they could benefit from being given a property on the King’s private Norfolk estate. But given Harry’s well-documented security concerns, setting up home here might be a stretch. Instead, it’s been suggested that the couple will use their holiday home in Portugal as a base.
The Sussexes reportedly own a luxury property at the CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club in Melides. They are believed to have bought the Portugal pad in 2023 for around £3.6million.
The exclusive oceanfront estate – often dubbed “the Hamptons of Portugal” – is located along the Alentejo coast, roughly 81 miles (130 kilometers) south of Lisbon. Neighbours include Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, who own a home in the same development. (Additionally, Jack works in the marketing and sales department for the resort.)
This week, Meghan took to Instagram to share a selection of summer holiday snaps from Portugal, where the family had been enjoying a holiday before heading to the UK for the big reunion this month.
Certainly, Portugal currently seems the far more likely option – and not only because of Harry’s security concerns. Marlene argues: “Meghan was not comfortable with all the rules. William was right to advise Harry to take his time and not rush into marriage. The family learned valuable lessons from the marital failures (Charles & Diana and Andrew & Sarah). Neither couple got to know each other well before the marriage. No real courtships.
“Edward and Sophie and William and Catherine lived together before their marriages. That time allowed the women to learn what life would be like as a royal. Meghan was not afforded that time – and perhaps if they lived together for a few years, Meghan would have had more time to observe.”
Kids’ schooling
Recent reports have suggested that Harry would love for his two children Archie and Lilibet – now aged seven and five – to have a private British education, as he fears they are missing out on an “extensive family network”.
His spokesperson did confirm earlier this year that son Archie would not be following in Harry’s footsteps and going to Eton – unlike Prince George, who will start there in September. They said: “Prince Harry has not put his son’s name down for Eton, nor does he have any plans to do so.”
But there are plenty of other options available, including Marlborough College, Oundle School, and St Edward’s School in Oxford – all of which were considerations for George.
Singer Joss Stone previously revealed that Harry had asked her about moving from America back to Britain during a conversation at the WellChild Awards in London on September 8. She told Hello!: “He also asked about how we were settling back in and was genuinely interested in our move home. He’s just very warm and down to earth, as always.
“Maybe Harry will move back too. That would be nice. He was saying how wonderful the schools are here and how important community is for children.
“It was nice to share that with him because it’s exactly why we felt drawn to come back – for the kids to grow up surrounded by family, friends and a strong sense of belonging and most importantly in a safe environment.”
It is possible that Archie could attend a boarding school, which would allow the Sussexes to continue to live in the US, or Portugal. But given Harry’s own unhappy experience at Eton – which he went into detail about in Spare – boarding might be off the cards.
What royal roles could they take on?
Harry and Meghan had to return their honorary military appointments and royal patronages after quitting royal life, and they were redistributed to working members of the Royal Family. Under the arrangement, the couple also had to give up using the HRH titles, but Harry retained the title of prince, having been born one.
It seems highly unlikely that Charles would take those redistributed patronages away from working royals in order to return them to Harry and Meghan. And they remain such polarising figures that putting them back into royal circulation might be too much of a risk.
But it appears that the Sussexes are hoping that Harry could carry out public-facing events while in the UK – like hospital visits and speeches – as a working royal would.
Could Harry and Meghan’s ‘half-in’ format really come to fruition? Certainly the Sussexes are a polarising couple, and there isn’t a huge feeling of goodwill towards them given their comments on the royal family in the Queen and Prince Philip’s latter years. Reinstating them on any level will likely prove contentious.
Then there is the William factor. He will one day become King and has made no secret of his desire to slim down the monarchy and make changes. Certainly it seems there will be no place for Harry or Meghan.
William is known to take a much harder line than Charles, and while he was said to be supportive of his father’s decision to see the Sussexes this month, his stance on them has not changed. Sources say neither he nor Princess Kate had any desire to meet with Harry and Meghan – and the once close bond the brothers shared looks irreparably shattered.
Private ventures
Harry currently earns money from business coaching company BetterUp and sustainable travel firm Travalyst, and is also trying to expand the success of the couple’s production company Archewell.
Meghan, meanwhile, runs her own lucrative lifestyle business, As Ever, with a return to acting in the works as well as other TV appearances – including being a guest judge recently on MasterChef Australia.
But what hurdles could they face pairing their commercial work with royal duties? Marlene explains: “The Sussexes did not want the half-in-half -out guidelines that were offered by the Palace [before Megxit] – which were the Luce Guidelines designed for Edward and Sophie, who were half in, half out for a period of time before Ardent [the television production company founded by Prince Edward in 1993] had financial problems and Sophie’s encounter with the fake sheik.
“On the premise that the Queen needed more support during the Golden Jubilee, Edward and Sophie gave up their careers, closed down their businesses, and became very successful working royals. The Luce guidelines had restrictions. Everything would need to be approved by the Palace – the business deals. Let’s be honest, the Palace would never have approved the Netflix deal.”
The key rules of the Luce Guidelines dictate that working royals must consult the Lord Chamberlain prior to taking on any new business, commercial, or professional activities.
Business ventures must be strictly separated from official royal duties and public engagements; royals must turn down official public engagements if they cannot adequately separate them from their private business interests.
Commercial enterprises involving royals must also ensure that employees or associates do not exploit royal connections or status for financial advantage. Finally, working royals are barred from using their official titles, residences, or royal patronage to promote private commercial interests.
Harry has argued for years that his family are not safe in the UK unless he is afforded taxpayer funded police protection. It is equivalent to the automatic high-level security provided to full-time senior working royals like Prince William and Princess Kate.
He lost an appeal over the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office last year after RAVEC decided he should receive a reduced degree of security protection when in the country.
Harry tried to have his security upgraded ahead of July’s visit; a report was submitted – commissioned by Harry’s own private security firm – detailing dozens of threats and potential attacks. But he was again told that no taxpayer funded security would be provided.
If the Sussexes stay at a royal residence during their trips to the UK, they gain the security protections that come with it. But outside of those walls, it’s a different picture.
King Charles cannot change or unilaterally restore Harry’s official taxpayer-funded police security. As a constitutional monarch, the King must remain strictly apolitical and cannot interfere in government decisions or ongoing legal proceedings. He therefore cannot interfere with Ravec’s decision making.
