Meghan Markle's UK Visit Turns into a Nightmare: What Really Happened?
Prince Harry’s trip to the United Kingdom did not go Meghan Markle’s way.
Royals reporter Russell Myers confirmed to People that the trip “turned into a nightmare” due to security issues that forced Markle, 44, and her and Harry’s kids, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, to head back home to California earlier than they intended.
A source who knows the Sussexes told the outlet Markle would have felt “humiliated” standing by while Harry, 41, and the royal institution bickered over accommodations for the visiting family.
Another source said the “Suits” alum “is very supportive” of Harry but that “there’s a lot of sadness” over how the trip turned out.
Meanwhile, a different insider claimed Markle “always lets [Harry] lead” when it comes to dealing with his family.
Harry was in his native England for only one week, where he promoted next year’s Invictus Games, to be held in Birmingham.
As Page Six exclusively reported, the Sussexes were denied taxpayer-funded security, and Buckingham Palace withdrew the offer to let the couple stay at the royal residence, so Harry was solo for most of the trip.
We also confirmed Markle wouldn’t attend the Invictus Games event with Harry.
However, Markle and her kids did join Harry for their reunion with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House last Friday.
Charles, 77, had not seen his grandchildren — who live in California with Harry and Markle — since 2022 when they attended Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
“It is better that people don’t know anything about these meetings,” a source told People. “They should be allowed to rekindle those family ties.”
Overall, Myers told the outlet, the outcome of the trip “was further evidence of the fractiousness of Harry’s relationship with the institution.”
Meanwhile, a source claimed that if the security situation had been “resolved, there would be so much more certainty every time” Harry goes to the UK.
Along with the security and accommodation issues, Harry found out he lost his $67 million court battle against a UK tabloid while he was across the pond.
“The court case was a massive defeat for Harry,” royal author Simon Vigar told People.
Harry, who had sued the Daily Mail’s publisher, Associated Newspapers, for breach of privacy, called the legal decision “a complete and obvious whitewash” in a statement to Page Six.
Sources told us Harry “doesn’t have the money” to pay up to $15 million in legal fees and may need to rely on pal Elton John for funds.
Despite seeing Charles, Harry did not meet up with his estranged brother, Prince William, in the UK.
“It’s so broken,” an insider said about the siblings’ relationship, as another source added that there’s “been no movement, especially on William’s side.”
But royal expert Kinsey Schofield exclusively told Page Six that William understands Charles’ decision to meet with Harry “even if he wouldn’t have done it himself.”
“He can appreciate that a father living with cancer wants to see his son and grandchildren, while still believing that Harry has not earned his way back into the family’s confidence,” Schofield added.
Harry and Markle quit their royal duties in 2020, after which they bashed his family in their 2021 sit-down interview with Oprah and in their 2022 “Harry & Meghan” Netflix series.
The couple has no plans to return to the royal family.