Duke and Duchess seek ‘friendly relations’ with monarch to enable regular UK visits as Harry breaks four-month absence following crushing court defeat
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are pushing for a new relationship with the Royal Family that would ease their security fears in the UK, according to a source.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as working members of the Royal Family in 2020.
Harry spent four days in the UK this month and held a meeting with King Charles at Clarence House, which lasted nearly an hour.
King Charles has made clear to his youngest son that he cannot have a part-time role in the Royal Family; however, the prince is said to want to strike a fresh agreement with the monarch.
A source told the Mail that Harry and Meghan want “friendly relations with the King and to be in a position to move between Britain and the States regularly with no fears for their security.
The Duke of Sussex has made multiple solo appearances in England over the past two years, but he has previously stated that he does not feel safe bringing his family to the UK.
Prince Harry’s trip to the UK this month was the first time the Duke of Sussex had returned since suffering a crushing court defeat in May 2025.
It ended the royal’s hiatus from the UK, which had gone on for four months since he lost his legal battle for taxpayer-funded armed police protection.
The case centred on a decision by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that Harry should receive a different degree of protection when visiting the country.
Ultimately, the Court of Appeal ruled against the Duke, with Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, dismissing his appeal.
The ruling meant that armed police bodyguards, paid for by the British taxpayer, will not be automatically reinstated for Harry, Meghan and their two children when in the UK.
Following the legal defeat, the Duke of Sussex told the BBC in a TV interview that he could not see a future in which he brought Meghan, Archie and Lilibet back to the country of his birth.
He said in May 2025: “(I) can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point.”
Historic Father-Son Reunion
The September meeting between Harry and Charles at Clarence House marked their first face-to-face encounter in 19 months, the longest period they had gone without seeing each other since Harry’s departure from royal duties.
Buckingham Palace officials confirmed the two met for a private tea at the King’s residence, with Harry arriving at approximately 5:20 p.m. on September 10, shortly after Charles had returned from Balmoral.
Speaking at an Invictus Games event later that evening, Harry told guests his father was doing “great” amid his ongoing cancer treatment, which was first announced in February 2024.
The meeting came after months of speculation and what appeared to be tentative steps toward reconciliation, including a July meeting between Harry’s communications team and the King’s press secretary, described by British media as “secret peace talks.”
Security Remains the ‘Sticking Point’
Harry has been explicit that security concerns are the primary obstacle to reconciliation with his family. In his May BBC interview, he revealed: “There have been so many disagreements, differences between me and some of my family. This current situation that has been ongoing for five years with regard to human life and safety is the sticking point. It is the only thing that’s left.”
The Duke added that his father “won’t speak to me because of this security stuff,” though he expressed hope for reconciliation, saying: “There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has.”
Harry’s lawyer, Shaheed Fatima KC, argued in court that the Duke’s “life is at stake” and that he faced security risks including threats from al-Qaeda. She claimed Harry had been “singled out” for “inferior treatment” compared to other royals.
The security issue has particularly impacted Meghan and the couple’s children. The family of four has not travelled to the UK together since attending Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
A Potential Compromise
Sources suggest the Sussexes are now seeking a middle ground that would allow them to maintain their independent life in California while having the ability to visit the UK regularly without security concerns.
The couple’s push for “friendly relations” with Charles appears aimed at establishing a new framework that, while not restoring full royal privileges, would provide sufficient protection for family visits.
Royal expert Jennie Bond suggested that reconciliation could be “threatening” for Meghan, who has emphasised her contentment with life in Montecito, California. “Bringing Archie and Lilibet into the equation could be even harder for Meghan, as security concerns may remain,” Bond told OK! magazine.
Brother’s Rift Remains Deep
While there are signs of a potential thaw with Charles, Harry’s relationship with his brother Prince William remains deeply strained. The brothers have not met since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022.
During Harry’s recent UK visit, William was conducting engagements in Wales, just 10 miles away, but the brothers did not meet. Royal correspondents note there has been no sign of improvement in their relationship.
Looking Forward
Despite the challenges, Harry has indicated he plans future UK visits. Following his September meeting with Charles, he told The Guardian he would bring his children to the UK in the future, marking a shift from his earlier statements.
The Duke said in September: “I’ve got other trips planned that will take me through the UK, or back to the UK, and so I’ll stop in and see my family as much as I can.”
As the Sussexes navigate their complex relationship with the Royal Family, the security issue remains paramount. Whether Charles can find a solution that satisfies both his constitutional obligations and his son’s safety concerns may determine whether Harry, Meghan, and their children can ever truly feel at home in Britain again.
The coming months will reveal whether this latest push for a new arrangement can bridge the divide that has separated the Sussexes from the Royal Family for nearly five years.
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Image Credit:
Prince Harry and Meghan’s carriage procession through Windsor (19 May 2018) — photo by Londisland, CC BY 3.0
