Duchess Meghan's UK Comeback: Unpopularity and Royal Hurdles Await

Meghan, the wife of Prince Harry, is reportedly gearing up for a demanding reintegration into British society. Her return is anticipated to be fraught with difficulties, given her persistent unpopularity in the UK and the existing strained relationship with the royal family. The 45-year-old former American actress has consistently revealed, through various high-profile interviews and revealing documentaries, the profound struggles she encountered following her marriage to Harry in 2018. Both Meghan and Harry have openly criticized her portrayal by the British press, with Harry testifying in court this year that the media's actions rendered her life an “absolute misery”.

Historian Ed Owens noted that there are "more questions sort of over her and how she re-adapts to life back in the United Kingdom" than concerning Harry. He added that predicting how she will manage "is difficult to answer at this stage because you know she’s tried successively over the last six years to reinvent her public image to relaunch her brand."

While King Charles III's younger son, Prince Harry, maintains strong connections to Britain, driven by his commitment to charitable endeavors and a desire for his children to foster closer ties with his family, Meghan's situation appears more intricate. The question arises: what will she do away from her comfortable Californian base, where she clearly feels more at home?

Their unexpected decision to move back to the UK, six years after their controversial departure from royal duties, is reportedly partly due to Meghan, known for her starring role in the US series “Suits,” being offered an acting position in a British production. This information, initially reported by the Australian news website news.com.au, was not refuted by a spokesperson for the couple when contacted by AFP. Experts suggest that Meghan is likely to prioritize family life, especially for her children, Archie, aged seven, and Lilibet, aged five. She has previously mentioned in interviews her enjoyment of daily school runs. It's understood that both children have already been enrolled in a British school, and the couple has reportedly selected a new residence.

Conversely, her career prospects in the United States seem to have diminished following the conclusion of her Netflix agreement for her lifestyle and cookery program, “With Love, Meghan.” A film featuring her in a brief cameo as herself, shot late last year, is expected for release soon. She also made a guest appearance on an episode of “MasterChef Australia” during a trip to the country.

Jonathan Shalit, chairman of InterTalent Rights Group and a talent manager, informed the Press Association news agency that, "If Meghan decided tomorrow that she seriously wanted to act again, directors and producers would absolutely want to meet her and audition her.”

However, in Britain, Meghan's public image remains largely unfavorable. A YouGov poll conducted in late July revealed that 65 percent of Britons view her negatively. Following their dramatic exit, Harry and Meghan publicly condemned her treatment by the powerful British press. In a 2022 Netflix documentary, Meghan stated, "Truth be told, no matter how hard I tried, no matter how good I was, no matter what I did, they were still going to find a way to destroy me."

Initially, the media had welcomed her as a refreshing addition to the royal family, often referred to as the “Firm,” with its deep-rooted traditions. Yet, she quickly fell out of favor, with tabloid reports painting her as demanding and reluctant to accept the inherent constraints of royal life. Her various ventures, including her lifestyle and food products brand, As Ever, are frequently ridiculed.

Since relocating from Britain, Meghan has made only limited returns, notably for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022 and later for the late monarch’s funeral that same year. Last month, she joined Harry and their two children for a brief holiday, during which they met King Charles and Queen Camilla. This visit was widely interpreted as a potential sign of thawing relations.

Nonetheless, her return risks reigniting "the conflicts and issues that originally caused their departure," including allegations of racism, according to Nathalie Weidhase, a media specialist at the University of Surrey. Furthermore, lingering family tensions persist, exacerbated by Harry’s 2023 memoir, “Spare.” In the book, Harry accused his brother William and William’s wife Catherine of being unwelcoming towards Meghan, complicating her integration into the royal family. Meghan also claimed in an interview with US television host Oprah Winfrey that a member of the royal family had expressed concerns about the skin color of her unborn child.

Despite these past issues, royal expert Owens believes that the family is "not coming back for another fight with the wider royal family, that’s not their purpose here. They want stability for their family … stability for their children.”