Prince Harry 'can't be trusted' says Carole Malone | RU
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have spent the past six years attempting to build a life away from the monarchy, swapping palace corridors for Californian sunshine, royal duties for commercial ventures and British traditions for a fresh start thousands of miles across the Atlantic. Yet after their dramatic return to Britain this summer, I cannot help wondering whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have finally realised one uncomfortable truth - you can change countries, careers and even continents, but you cannot keep running from your past.
And quite frankly, I think it’s time they stopped trying. The couple’s return to British soil in August was certainly unexpected, particularly after years of public disagreements, explosive interviews and deeply personal revelations about the Royal Family.
But what fascinates me most isn’t why they’ve come back - it’s what they intend to do next. Six years after walking away from royal duties, Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, still appear to be searching for their place in the world.
You cannot have it both ways
Let’s cast our minds back to 2020, when Harry and Meghan made the extraordinary decision to step down as senior working royals in pursuit of financial independence and greater privacy.
Their decision was undeniably controversial, but ultimately, it was theirs to make. Fast-forward to October 2026, however, and the Sussexes are once again undertaking public appearances on British soil that look remarkably familiar.
During their recent visit to Nottingham, there were smiling crowds, handshakes, charitable engagements and even the sort of walkabout traditionally associated with working members of the monarchy.
Now, I applaud anyone who uses their platform to support worthwhile causes, and their charity work deserves recognition.
But surely I’m not alone in noticing the irony of Harry and Meghan recreating elements of the very public life they once chose to leave behind?
Harry must face an uncomfortable reality
For me, the biggest question concerns Harry and his relationship with his family, particularly his father, King Charles, and brother, Prince William. Years of public revelations and strained relationships cannot simply disappear because the Sussexes have decided to move back across the Atlantic.
Reconciliation, if Harry genuinely wants it, will require more than warm words, carefully timed appearances or a change of postcode.
It will take patience, uncomfortable conversations and a willingness to accept that rebuilding trust is rarely straightforward. And perhaps the hardest truth of all is that Harry cannot expect the monarchy to return to the way it was before he left.
The institution has moved forward, responsibilities have changed, and William and Catherine, 44, have continued carving out their own futures. Harry must decide what his relationship with that world should look like now.
Meghan needs to find her own direction
Then there’s Meghan, whose post-royal career has taken her from Netflix documentaries and podcasts to lifestyle ventures, luxury products and an expanding business empire.
There’s nothing wrong with ambition, and I certainly wouldn’t criticise a woman simply for wanting to establish herself independently.
But with so many different projects, I sometimes wonder whether Meghan has established one clear identity beyond being the Duchess of Sussex.
My criticism isn’t that she’s trying something new - it’s that the royal connection still appears to be the thread holding so much of her public image together.
If independence was the goal, surely the greatest achievement would be building a future that no longer needs to be defined by the institution she left.
It’s time to stop looking backwards
Of course, Harry and Meghan are entitled to build their lives wherever they choose, and returning to Britain may ultimately prove a positive decision for their family. But geography alone cannot resolve years of tension, competing expectations or uncertainty about their public roles.
They cannot turn back the clock to 2019, nor should they spend another six years attempting to recreate a version of royal life that no longer exists. The King has made their position clear: they remain non-working royals, and any future relationship with the institution must respect that distinction.
The answer is simple. Prince Harry and Meghan need to decide what they genuinely want, embrace the opportunities in front of them and stop allowing their departure from royal life to define every chapter that follows.
You can run from Buckingham Palace, you can run to California, and you can even return to Britain - but sooner or later, you have to stop running and start living.