Following years of living in Montecito, California, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have now returned to the UK. But just two weeks into their stay, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may soon be leaving Britain, according to royal journalist Dickie Arbiter. He joined host Jeremy Kyle on TalkTV on Wednesday and delivered a huge blow. It comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were left “surprised” by the King’s formal reiteration they will be treated as “private citizens”. The couple did not have enough time to clarify any points before the guidance was issued to the media, it is understood. Harry’s father King Charles asked the Royal Household’s most senior officer the Lord Chamberlain to write to senior stakeholders within the Government and the military setting out guidelines on their status which confirmed they could not use their “HRH” titles.

Jeremy commented: “This preconceived belief they were going to come back and they were going to come back and the King released this letter via Lord Chamberlain. Do you think this will mean they won’t last long in the UK. It will be temporary. How long do you think they will be here?” Dickie suggested the Sussexes may leave the country sooner than they previously anticipated.

He replied: “I’m not sure they are here long-term. I firmly believe that they will go back to Montecito for Christmas because that’s where her mother is. Everybody talks about reconciliation with the King but what about reconciliation with Thomas Markle.”

Lord Benyon’s letter reiterates the couple’s “current” status as non-working royals.

It reads, “This position, distinct from the state and royal duties undertaken by the working royal family, and with the personal latitude it brings the couple in respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would wish, will continue to be fully respected.

“Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used.

It says their charitable work “is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity” adding, “In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”

It was revealed to the media at 3.06pm on Monday. It is understood the contents were shared with Harry and Meghan’s team almost an hour before at 1.59pm.

Meanwhile, the couple’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are expected to be starting school in the UK near to the family’s reported countryside retreat.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “Set to Leave the UK” After Sussexes Face a Major Setback

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have remained at the centre of public attention ever since they stepped back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family. Their decision to build a more independent life outside the United Kingdom transformed their relationship with the monarchy and generated intense interest around the world. Now, renewed reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could spend even less time in Britain have once again raised questions about their long-term connection to the country.

The suggestion that Harry and Meghan are “set to leave the UK” comes amid continuing speculation about their relationship with Britain, the royal family and the British public. However, headlines surrounding the couple can sometimes be more dramatic than the facts available to the public. It is therefore important to distinguish between confirmed developments, media reports and speculation about their future plans.

Harry and Meghan announced in January 2020 that they would step back as senior working royals. They subsequently relocated to North America and established their main home in California. Since then, their lives have largely been based outside Britain, although Prince Harry has continued to return to the UK for selected events and personal matters.

Their decision represented an extraordinary change for a modern royal family. Traditionally, senior members of the monarchy have lived close to the centre of royal life and carried out official duties on behalf of the Crown. Harry and Meghan, by contrast, sought greater independence from the traditional system while maintaining their connection to their royal identities.

The move also created a complicated situation concerning Harry’s relationship with Britain. Although he remains a member of the royal family, his day-to-day life is now thousands of miles away from London. His wife and children have also established their lives primarily in the United States.

One of the most controversial issues surrounding Harry’s relationship with the UK has been security.

Prince Harry has previously expressed concerns about the security arrangements available to him and his family when they visit Britain. The issue became particularly important because he argued that his security needs had changed after stepping back from official royal duties.

The dispute has attracted considerable attention because security protection for members of the royal family is closely connected to official responsibilities, public appearances and assessments made by the relevant authorities. Harry has sought legal action concerning the arrangements provided to him when visiting the UK.

For the Sussexes, security is not simply a question of convenience. It has been presented as a significant factor affecting whether Harry can comfortably bring his wife and children to Britain.

This issue may help explain why the family has continued to make California its primary base. California offers Harry and Meghan a private family environment while also providing access to the entertainment industry and commercial opportunities that have become important to their careers.

The couple have developed a number of projects since leaving royal duties. Their activities have included media production, public speaking, charitable work and commercial partnerships. Meghan has also developed her own lifestyle-oriented projects, while Harry has remained involved in causes relating to veterans, mental health and other charitable interests.

At the same time, their relationship with the royal family has remained complicated.

Their interviews and public projects have included discussions of their experiences within the monarchy. The couple have spoken about disagreements, family tensions and the pressures they experienced while working as senior royals. These revelations attracted enormous international attention and generated strong reactions from supporters and critics alike.

For some observers, the Sussexes’ public statements have contributed to a deeper divide between them and other members of the royal family. Others argue that Harry and Meghan were entitled to tell their own story after experiencing intense media scrutiny.

Whatever interpretation individuals may have, there is little doubt that the couple’s departure changed the way the public discusses the British monarchy.

The phrase “humiliating blow” used in some headlines should therefore be treated carefully. Such wording is an interpretation rather than a neutral description of an event. A setback for a public figure can mean different things depending on the circumstances, and the available evidence does not necessarily support the strongest language used by tabloid publications.

What is clearer is that Harry and Meghan have gradually built a life that is structurally different from their former existence in Britain.

Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have grown up primarily in the United States. Their home, professional networks and many of their social connections are also based in California. As a result, returning permanently to Britain would represent a major change for the entire family.

For Harry personally, however, Britain remains significant.

He was born and raised there and spent decades as a working member of the royal family. Many of his charitable interests are connected to British institutions, while his military background also remains an important part of his public identity.

His continued visits demonstrate that leaving Britain geographically does not necessarily mean completely abandoning his relationship with the country.

The question is therefore not simply whether Harry and Meghan will “leave” the UK. In practical terms, they have already made the United States their principal home. The more meaningful question is how frequently they will return and what role Britain will continue to play in their lives.

Harry’s relationship with his father, King Charles III, is another important factor.

The relationship between father and son has attracted extensive media attention, particularly since Harry and Meghan moved away from royal duties. Public reports have described periods of tension as well as attempts to maintain communication. However, private family relationships are difficult to assess from media reports alone, and many details remain known only to the people directly involved.

The wider royal family has also continued its own responsibilities. King Charles has focused on his role as monarch, while other senior royals have maintained public duties and charitable commitments. The Sussexes, meanwhile, have developed an increasingly independent public identity.

This separation of roles may eventually become a more permanent feature of the modern monarchy.

Harry and Meghan’s story also reflects a broader transformation in the relationship between celebrities, royal figures and the media. In the past, royal families largely relied on traditional newspapers and broadcasters to communicate with the public. Today, members of the royal family can participate directly in global media through streaming platforms, social media and independent production companies.

That change gives public figures greater control over their narratives, but it also creates new controversies. Every interview, documentary or public statement can become the subject of international debate within minutes.

For Harry and Meghan, the consequences have been particularly significant because their personal story intersects with one of the world’s most recognizable institutions.

Ultimately, reports that the Sussexes are “set to leave the UK” should not necessarily be interpreted as evidence of a dramatic new departure. Their principal residence has already been in California for several years. What may be changing is the practical extent of their connection to Britain and the circumstances under which Harry returns.

Their future relationship with the UK is likely to depend on several factors, including family relationships, security arrangements, professional commitments and the needs of their children.

The Sussexes’ journey has already demonstrated that royal life in the twenty-first century does not have to follow traditional patterns. Harry and Meghan have chosen a different path, one that combines their royal backgrounds with independent careers and a life outside Britain.

Whether that decision ultimately brings them closer to or further away from the UK remains a matter for the future. For now, the most important distinction is between confirmed facts and dramatic speculation. Harry and Meghan have established their main family life in the United States, but Harry’s connections to Britain have not disappeared.

The headlines may continue to describe every development as a “humiliating blow” or a dramatic departure. Yet the reality is more complicated. The Sussexes’ story is not simply about leaving one country behind. It is about redefining their place between two countries, two public identities and two very different worlds.

As their lives continue to evolve, public interest in their relationship with Britain is unlikely to disappear. What remains uncertain is exactly how that relationship will develop in the years ahead.