“A Slap in the Face for William”: Harry and Meghan’s Return to the UK Could Trigger a Crisis for the Monarchy

“It’s a major slap in the face for William, and it also creates serious risks for the monarchy,” the expert said after reports emerged that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to return to the UK as early as the end of August.

According to Sykes, given the brothers’ years-long feud, Harry’s move back to Britain could create a whole series of new problems for the future king.

“What happens if Charles invites Harry to join the royal family for Christmas? What happens if Harry wants to attend events on Remembrance Day?” the commentator asked.

Sykes also said he does not believe reports that King Charles III was caught off guard by his son’s decision.

“There is no way Charles III didn’t know what was going on,” he said.

However, a source cited by Page Six claims that the monarch only learned of Harry and Meghan’s plans on Sunday.

Sykes described the Sussexes’ decision to return to Britain as “a very dangerous situation” and said he believes Charles III made a mistake by welcoming his son’s return. In his view, the late Queen Elizabeth II “would never have allowed this to happen.”

Harry and Meghan Are Returning for Their Children

The move is expected to be long-term. Seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet will accompany their parents to the UK and are expected to begin attending a British school.

Sykes admitted that he suspected something significant was happening in the Sussexes’ lives, but did not expect a decision of this magnitude or such a rapid return.

According to sources cited by Page Six, the couple decided to return in order to be closer to Charles III and give their children an opportunity to build relationships with their British relatives.

“Things Didn’t Work Out in America”

The royal commentator also believes financial considerations could be behind the unexpected decision.

In the US, Meghan has had mixed results with her lifestyle brand As Ever and her Netflix series With Love, Meghan, which ran for two seasons. Sykes believes the situation speaks for itself: “Obviously, things did not work out in America the way they expected.”

“If there were another $100 million contract on the table, they wouldn’t be rushing home,” he said.

Particularly notable is the fact that as recently as 2025, Harry said he could not imagine a scenario in which he would return to the UK with his wife and children.

The situation changed following his meeting with his father in July. Charles III, who is undergoing cancer treatment, met with his son after a prolonged period of strained relations. Harry previously told the BBC: “I don’t know how much time my father has left.”

Now, the Sussexes’ return could leave the royal family facing an extremely difficult question: how will Harry and Meghan live in Britain without resuming official royal duties, and how closely will they be allowed to remain within the orbit of the monarchy?

For William, this could prove to be an especially painful test: his brother is returning to the country he once dramatically left, but this time with his family — and potentially with very different expectations about his relationship with the royal household.