Prince Harry is reportedly considering a permanent return to the UK and the royal family, apart from his wife Meghan Markle.
This decision comes amid ongoing reports of Harry's homesickness since the couple relocated from England to Southern California. According to sources including Royal historian Hugo Vickers and entertainment expert Mark Boardman, Harry's longing for his former life in the UK contrasts with Meghan's preferences in their current circumstances.
Mark Boardman highlighted Harry's desire to reconnect with old friendships, noting the challenges this poses within the couple's relationship. Boardman explained that Meghan finds Harry's nostalgia for his previous life frustrating, especially his wish to spend more time in the UK. He elaborated on Harry's attempts to maintain ties with his college friends and his fondness for London, despite lacking a permanent residence there and often staying in hotels during visits.
Boardman emphasized the difficulty Harry faces in persuading Meghan about the importance of reconnecting with his past, including weekends in London with old friends from Eton. He attributed Harry's longing for a London base, ideally on royal grounds, to his deep-rooted friendships and attachment to his upbringing. However, Boardman acknowledged the unlikelihood of such a scenario given the couple's current circumstances in California.
Royal editor Matt Wilkinson echoed these sentiments, noting Harry's reported homesickness and suggesting that life in California may not align with Harry's personal aspirations. Wilkinson speculated on Harry's feelings of disconnect from his former life and responsibilities as a working royal, contrasting it with their current situation far from the UK.
Tom Quinn, speaking to The Mirror, provided further insights into Harry's perceived boredom and longing for his army and school friends who predominantly reside across the Atlantic. Quinn suggested that Harry's friends have been reluctant to visit him in California, attributing their reservations to discomfort with Meghan. According to Quinn, Harry chose to miss a recent major royal event, the wedding of his childhood friend Hugh Grosvenor, to avoid overshadowing the occasion or causing disruption.
Quinn highlighted the strain in Harry's friendships, noting that some friends dislike visiting him in California due to their unfavorable views of Meghan. He described the perceived transformation in Harry's personality since his move, which has led to strained relationships with his friends from the past. Quinn remarked that Harry has reinvented himself in a way that doesn't work for his family or friends from the past, when he was a very different character.
Harry's book "Spare" seems to have upset some of his past military buddies, with a few expressing feeling let down by how he depicted their military service, viewing it as a disregard for military customs. This disagreement could be why the Duke felt isolated during his recent trip to the UK. From Vickers' comments, Harry opted for a hotel instead of staying at a royal residence and appeared to be with only his relatives from his mother's lineage.
Analyst Tom Quinn believes that Harry might be intentionally staying away from his old classmates and military colleagues, referring to them as part of his "pre-Meghan era," a time he appears to be trying to move past.
