Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s UK move is ‘huge slap in the face’ to William, creates ‘serious risks’ for monarchy

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Key points

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's impending move back to the UK after six years in Southern California is going to create headaches for Prince William, Page Six hears.
• Prince Harry and his wife famously left the UK in 2020 and giving up their roles as working members of the British royal family in a move dubbed "Megxit."
• They subsequently relocated to an expansive estate in Montecito, California, where they've been raising Archie and Lilibet, and we're informed they won't be selling the $14.5 million estate there.
• The news of the couples' move back to England comes after Prince Harry's reunion with his father – who is living with cancer – in July.
• What is gonna happen if Charles invites Harry to join the royal family for Christmas?

"It's a huge slap in the face for William, and it does also create serious risks for the monarchy, " royal reporter Tom Sykes informed Page Six after news that the Harry and Markle will head back throughout the Atlantic afterwards this month.

Sykes remarked that, given the longstanding feud between the brothers, the move will create a "huge succession" of further "challenges" for the Prince of Wales.

"What is gonna happen if Charles invites Harry to join the royal family for Christmas? What is gonna happen if Harry wants to attend the Remembrance Day celebrations?" he asked.

Notably, the reporter continued that, in his opinion, there is "no way" King Charles III "did not know" the move was happening. A source confirmed to Page Six Wednesday that the monarch learned of Harry and Markle's intentions Sunday.

For context, the author additionally explained that he feels it's "a very very dangerous situation" that Charles "allowed himself to be manipulated into welcoming them home, " noting that "there's no way that the late Queen Elizabeth II would've allowed this to happen."

Still, Sykes explained, the relocation – which Page Six confirmed will be for "an extended period" – "is a huge moment for Harry and Megan" and their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. This person will be enrolled in school there.

Sykes explained that while he did suspect "something was afoot" with the couple, he "never imagined it would be anything of this magnitude or they'd be happening this quickly."

For context, the author called the idea that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be relocating by the end of the month "quite extraordinary." Want more celebrity and pop culture news? Start your day with Page Six Daily.

Sources informed Page Six on Wednesday that Harry and Markle produced the decision to be closer to King Charles and to offer their children the opportunity to build family relationships.

Markle discovered mixed success in Southern California with her lifestyle brand, As Ever, and as the host of her own Netflix series, "With Love, Meghan, " which ran for two seasons.

Still, Sykes remarked he feels it's "very clear the things haven't worked out in America the way they thought they would" and suggested there may be financial motivations for the family moving back to Prince Harry's homeland.

"I think if there was another hundred-million-dollar deal on the table they wouldn't be rushing home, " Sykes informed us.

Prince Harry had previously remarked in 2025 that he "can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point, " as he continues to wait for a review of his security by Administration committee Ravec.

Meanwhile, the news of the couples' move back to England comes after Prince Harry's reunion with his father – who is living with cancer – in July.

Harry previously informed the BBC last year, "I don't know how much longer my father has."

Taken together, the developments around prince Harry and Meghan Markle's UK move is 'huge slap in the point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.