Published: 01:13 BST, 20 August 2026 | Updated: 09:29 BST, 20 August 2026
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to return to the UK has provoked a 'crisis for the monarchy', a royal expert said.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are understood to be returning for an 'extended period' of time, with Archie, seven, and five-year-old Lilibet starting at a British school in September.
The family will move into a non-royal residence and will not be working royals. King Charles was only informed by his son on Sunday of his plans to move back within the next two weeks.
The Daily Mail also understands that no mention of the family's return was raised or discussed when Harry, Meghan and their children met with the King at Highgrove earlier this summer.
This suggests that Charles may have been blindsided by their latest announcement.
'It provokes a crisis for the monarchy because the monarchy's responses are often poor when they don't know what to expect,' Richard Fitzwilliams told the Daily Mail.
'With this, you certainly don't know what to expect. You never know what happens in the wildlife, all sorts of things may happen. It is utterly ruthless if he did tell the King of his plans to move on Sunday.'
Mr Fitzwilliams added the decision was evidence the Sussexes were a 'disastrous failure in the US', after relocating to California six years ago.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (pictured in April) are reportedly moving back to the United Kingdom – six years after leaving for the US
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured in February) are said to be moving back to the United Kingdom before the end of the month
Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, are thought to have already enrolled in a British school (the family are pictured in December 2025)
And suggested Harry, 41, feared how his brother, the Prince of Wales, would receive him and his family when, or should, William takes the throne.
'This is actually an extremely serious situation. What they have done is very clearly chosen King Charles's reign to do this knowing their options might be very limited when, and if, William becomes king,' the royal expert said.
'I strongly suspect that William would look very closely at their titles and possibly the titles of their children. William will see this as total proof they couldn't be trusted for a single second.'
