Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s potential return to the UK for a visit is apparently hanging in the balance, according to reports.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been living in Los Angeles since 2020 after deciding to step down from the royal family and move to the US.
Their decision came after they found they were hounded by the press and wanted to live a more private life with their children, Archie, four, and Lilibet, two.
And while Harry is due to return to the UK in a few weeks’ time, he will only reportedly bring Meghan and the children with him if one condition is met.
Prince Harry has strict conditions for when his family visits the UK. Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
According to reports, Prince Harry is due to attend a special service at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8, marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, which he co-founded in 2014 for sick and injured servicemen and women.
While Meghan is also a proud supporter of the Invictus Games, and recently joined Harry on a trip to Canada to promote the 2025 games which will take place in Whistler and Vancouver next year, it is uncertain whether she will attend the UK service.
According to reports from The Telegraph, Harry is not keen to bring his wife and children to Britain unless he is able to overturn a Home Office ruling stating that he is not immediately entitled to police protection while in the UK.
The Prince has fought back since the ruling was decided in February 2020, after it was decreed that he and his family would no longer receive the “same degree” of protection – which is publicly funded – while they are in the UK.
His legal team has argued that he was “singled out” and treated “less favorably” by having his level of protection decreased, which they believe would put him at greater risk of a “successful attack”.
Meghan recently supported Harry at an Invictus Games 2025 launch event. Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images
He told the court that he believes the ruling is “unlawful and unfair”, and fears that he and his children would not feel safe in the UK as a result of it.
He said in a written statement at a previous case hearing: “It was with great sadness for both of us that my wife and I felt forced to step back from this role and leave the country in 2020. The UK is my home.
“The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home, as much as where they live at the moment in the United States. That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil.
“I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way too.”
The government has called for the claim to be dismissed, arguing that the Home Office has a right to decide the Duke’s protection on a “bespoke” and “case-by-case” basis.
According to the Telegraph’s reports, it understands that Harry “does not feel able” to bring Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet to the UK unless the ruling is overturned, for their safety.
Harry’s most recent return to the UK took place in February, when he traveled alone to London to visit his father, King Charles III, after it was announced that the monarch had been diagnosed with cancer.
According to reports, Prince Harry was only in the country for around 24 hours, of which he spent around 30 minutes meeting with his father, before returning to the US.
After the visit, he told Good Morning America that he would be returning again, explaining: “Look, I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.
“I’ve got other trips planned that will take me through the UK, or back to the UK, and so I’ll stop in and see my family as much as I can.”