The 'shockwaves' of Prince Harry and Meghan's return to the U.K.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are returning to the U.K. to live as private citizens after years in California. The move has sparked debate regarding their future relationship with the Royal Family and the British media.
Why it matters
The return of high-profile non-working royals creates significant institutional and public relations challenges for the British monarchy.
After Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stepped back as working members of the Royal Family and settled in California in 2020, there was little to suggest they would want to return to the United Kingdom any time soon.
So it came as a considerable surprise when word broke that Harry, Meghan and their two children were on their way back and would settle outside London for an extended period.
"It seems so counterintuitive and so contradictory to everything that they have said since the moment they left," royal historian Justin Vovk said in an interview.
But now they're back, and even though there has been much telegraphing of the idea that Harry and Meghan are not going to be working royals again, the move carries broader implications for both the institution of the monarchy and other members of the Royal Family.
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