It’s no secret to anyone that Meghan has been absent from several high-profile events in the U.K., fueling speculation about the severity of the rift with the royal family.
This May, Prince Harry is preparing to embark on another solo trip to his home country.
The Duke is expected to give a reading at St. Paul’s Cathedral on May 8 in commemoration of the Invictus Games.
His wife’s decision to stay in California again raises questions about the Duchess’ reluctance to set foot in the UK again.
Something that is in evidence, as Harry is scheduled to travel a few days later to Nigeria for an unofficial tour where he will be joined by his wife, Meghan.
When will Meghan Markle return to the UK?
So far, it is unknown when Meghan will return to the UK.
Recall that Meghan has not traveled to England since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
Since then, she has skipped events where her presence would be expected as Prince Harry’s wife.
Her break with the U.K. was evident last year when she did not attend King Charles’ coronation in May 2023, claiming it coincided with Prince Archie’s birthday.
Nor did she accompany Harry to the recent WellChild Awards ceremony, despite traveling to Germany days later to meet her husband for the Invictus Games.
For many, these repeated snubs are a sign that Meghan does not feel welcome in the UK.
Some royal commentators have suggested that the Duchess feels “uncomfortable” returning to a country where she is not popular.
While that unpopularity has to do with the couple’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 and the Netflix docuseries in late 2022, both projects left the British royal family looking bad.
Meghan’s decision to stay in Montecito, California, while Harry returns to the UK alone for different reasons, reinforces the narrative of discord between Meghan and the royal family.
Why is Meghan refusing to return to the UK?
Meghan has always had an excuse for not accompanying Harry when he travels to the UK, from celebrating her son’s birthday to prioritizing her philanthropic work.
However, for many observers, there are other, deeper factors at play.
Some speculate that the Duchess harbors resentment toward the British media and public, which she has accused of racism and unfair treatment.
Others suggest that tensions between Meghan and the royal family, particularly with the Prince and Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton and Prince William, have become too strained to overcome.
Whatever the motivations, it is clear that Meghan Markle does not want to return to the UK.