Prince Harry has made it clear that he won’t be bringing Meghan Markle back to the UK anytime soon. In the ITV documentary Tabloids on Trial, which aired on July 26, the Duke of Sussex opened up about the many legal battles he’s faced against UK publications.
He also shared his deep concerns about the safety of his wife, Meghan, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, if they were to return to Britain.
“It’s still dangerous, and all it takes is one lone actor, one person who reads this stuff to act on what they have read,” Harry said in the documentary. “Whether it’s a knife or acid, whatever it is, and these are things that are of genuine concern for me. It’s one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country.”
Harry’s decision to step back from royal duties, which he announced in January 2020, marked a major turning point. By June of that year, he and Meghan had moved to California, where they now live with their children.
The couple’s departure from royal life also meant they lost the right to police security in the UK, a decision made by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures.
In 2023, Harry challenged this decision in court, even offering to pay for his own police protection. In his court statement, Harry explained that safety concerns were a key reason for their move. His concerns were backed by former Metropolitan Police counterterrorism chief Neil Basu, who had revealed that “disgusting and very real” threats had been made against the couple.
Unfortunately for Harry, he lost his case against the UK government in February 2024. However, he still has the option to appeal the ruling regarding his family’s access to police protection.
Harry’s relationship with the British tabloids has been a major source of conflict. In the Tabloids on Trial documentary, Harry shared that his ongoing legal battles with the media have been a “central piece” of his feud with senior members of the royal family.
Despite the tension, Harry stands by his decision to challenge the press, saying, “It would be nice if we did it as a family. I believe that from a service standpoint and when you’re in a public role, that these are the things that we should be doing for the greater good.”
Harry has also opened up about the toll this all has taken on Meghan’s mental health. In their 2022 Netflix documentary, Harry & Meghan, he revealed that Meghan had experienced su:ic:id:al thoughts, a revelation that left him “devastated.”
“I never thought that it would get to that stage,” Harry admitted. “The fact that it got to that stage, I felt angry and ashamed. I didn’t deal with it particularly well. I dealt with it as ‘institutional Harry’ as opposed to ‘husband Harry.’ And what took over my feelings was my royal role.”
These experiences have clearly shaped Harry’s decisions and his ongoing concerns for his family’s safety. Despite the challenges, he continues to fight for what he believes is right, even if it means staying away from the country he once called home.
Share your thoughts in the comments down below!
