HARRY and Meghan’s UK return has threatened to ruffle feathers across the country following years of criticisms of Britain.
The Jattvibe exclusively revealed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were set to arrive in weeks, with kids Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, enrolling in school here.
Across an array of tell-all interviews, books and cringey Netflix shows, the pair have not held back in their criticism Credit: AP
In the six years since Megxit, the couple have also made a series of shock claims against the Royal Family, including King Charles Credit: Reuters
However many believed the bombshell move, set to happen at the end of August and last for “an extended period”, would never happen.
Harry himself even said he “couldn’t see a world” in which he brought his family to Britain amid a fierce row over security, but is now returning without the apparent problem being solved.
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His remark during a BBC interview last March was not the first time the Sussexes have slammed the UK since their move to the US.
Across an array of tell-all interviews, books and Netflix shows, the pair have made their thoughts pretty clear.
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Harry himself famously said he ‘couldn’t see a world’ in which he brought his family to Britain Credit: Alamy
Meghan said the couple we ‘happy to leave’ the UK Credit: Reuters
And in the six years since Megxit, the couple have also made a series of claims against the Royal Family, including King Charles.
So, as the couple who once insisted they were “happy to leave” return to UK, here are some of their biggest hypocrisies.
‘Trapped in the UK’
During the infamous sit-down interview with Oprah in March 2021, Harry and Meghan blasted the “toxic environment” in Britain.
The fiery 200-minute tell-all, which prompted the late Queen Elizabeth II to declare “recollections may vary”, saw Harry lay into his former home.
Harry said he ‘didn’t see a way out’ until he met Meghan
Meghan claimed both she and Harry were ‘upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy’ by existing Credit: PA
When quizzed on his exit by Oprah, the Duke of Sussex praised his wife and said he would not have been able to leave the UK without her.
Harry said he “didn’t see a way out” until he met Meghan and claimed he was “trapped”.
He told the talk show host: “I wouldn’t have been able to, because I myself was trapped as well. I didn’t see a way out.
“I was trapped, but I didn’t know. Trapped within the system, like the rest of my family are.. my father and my brother are trapped.”
Nothing seemingly has changed since the Oprah chat, and yet the Duke now feels prepared to enter back into “the system” with his wife and children in tow.
‘More peaceful life’
After stepping back from royal duties, Harry said in a Sentebale speech that he hoped their decision would lead to a “more peaceful” life.
And during the bombshell Oprah interview, Meghan said: “I think everyone has a basic right to privacy. Basic.”
It comes as…
Meghan once claimed she was worried about their children attending school in the UK due to a lack of privacy.
During an interview with The Cut in 2022, she said she would be unable to do the school pick up because it would become a “photo call”.
She told the outlet: “Sorry, I have a problem with that…
“That doesn’t make me obsessed with privacy. That makes me a strong and good parent protecting my child.”
The pair have both previously stated that the UK was the problem when it came to a lack of privacy, and that getting away to the US was the answer.
And yet, six years later, this issues seems to have resolved itself.
‘My life is at stake’
Last May, Harry lost his security appeal against the Home Office and the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures.
The Duke moaned “my life is at stake” and claimed he was “singled out” after his round-the-clock royal protection was axed in the wake of Megxit.
The Duke moaned ‘my life is at stake’ and claimed he was ‘singled out’ after his round-the-clock royal protection was axed Credit: BBC
The Prince said he felt ‘let down’ by his country Credit: Getty Images
In the wake of his humiliating loss, he extraordinarily told the BBC he “can’t see a world” where he would bring his wife and children to the UK.
He described the defeat as a “good old fashioned establishment stitch-up” and pointed his finger at the Royal Household.
Harry said: “Not so much as devastated with the loss that I am about the people behind the decision feeling as if this is OK”.
The royal also insisted marrying Meghan had further increased his security risks – as he urged then Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to review his case.
But the security issue is still not resolved, as the Home Office previously maintained that its position on funding Harry’s protection is unchanged.
And this morning, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said it was a “private matter” when quizzed on the Sussexes’ security arrangements.
‘Let down by UK’
Harry’s scathing comments were also directed at Britain, as the Prince said he felt “let down” by his country.
The decision led him to turn his back on the UK and claim he would no longer be visiting his homeland.
Sussexes attacks on William and Kate
PRINCE William and Catherine have been subject to an onslaught of attacks from Harry and Meghan since they quit the UK.In a bombshell 2021 Oprah interview, Meghan accused members of the Royal Family of having conversations over what colour skin her baby might have.While she and Harry never identified the culprits, a Dutch translation of Omid Scobie’s book Endgame claimed it was the King and Catherine.Meghan also alleged that Catherine made her cry before her 2018 wedding over flower-girl dresses.It had been reported at the time that Meghan made Catherine cry.Harry told Oprah his father and brother were “trapped” within the royal institution that they are dedicating their life to.In Spare, Harry revealed Meghan told Catherine she had “baby brain” during a pre-wedding phone call.Catherine later told her it had hurt her feelings.Also in Spare, Harry alleged William called Meghan “difficult”, “rude” and “abrasive” in 2019.He wrote that the row escalated until William “knocked me to the floor”.In their Netflix series, Meghan described her first meeting with Catherine as “jarring”.She said: “I’m a hugger. I didn’t know that could be jarring for Brits.”In 2023, Harry told ITV’s Tom Bradby that William and Catherine failed to get on with Meghan “from the get-go”.He accused them of stereotyping her as an “American actress, divorced, biracial” and said that created a “barrier”.
He told the BBC: “I feel very let down… I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point.”
Harry branded the lost appeal as a complete “surprise” and appeared shocked that he would not be receiving any further security.
He said: “A lot more has come out, I felt it needed to come out, the other side of the story needed to be told and I don’t regret that at all.
“I couldn’t believe, I thought with all the disagreements and chaos, the one thing I could rely on is my family keeping me safe.”
But despite repeated criticism of his country, Harry has performed the ultimate U-turn.
‘Dad refuses to speak to me’
During his spell in Montecito, Harry was pretty vocal of his issues with the Royal Family – particularly of his father, the King.
He famously told Oprah his dad stopped taking his calls after quitting royal life and said he was “cut off” financially by The Firm.
During his BBC interview last March, Harry said he had no regrets after repeatedly attacking his family, admitting “some will never forgive me”.
Harry famously told Oprah his dad stopped taking his calls after quitting royal life Credit: POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Harry has not held back in his criticism of the Royal Family – least of all his father Credit: AFP
When asked about his treatment during the security row, Harry claimed he was “picked on” and said he had asked Charles to “step aside”.
He said: “I never asked him to intervene – I asked him to step out of the way and let the experts do their jobs.”
He added: “I have no idea how much longer my father has – he is no longer speaking to me – but it would be nice to reconcile.”
And Harry’s accusation that the King is not willing to speak to him also appears to be false, given the pair’s meetings in the past 12 months.
Since then, Charles hosted his youngest son at Clarence House last September as they swapped presents and kisses on the cheek.
And just weeks ago, Charles and Camilla welcomed Harry, Meghan and their children in a “private” meeting.
‘Racism large part of reason to leave’
Speaking to Oprah in the most sensational royal interview of all time, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex slammed “racist” Britain.
Harry claimed racism from the British media had “filtered into the rest of society” and it was a “large part” of why he and his wife left.
He said: “But, unfortunately, if the source of information is inherently corrupt or racist or biased then that filters out to the rest of society.”
Meghan added: “It was bringing out a part of people that was racist in how it was charged. And that changed the threat.
“That changed the level of death threats. That changed everything.”
However, despite claiming that racism filtered through British society, the Sussexes now seem happy enough to return.
‘Happy to leave’
Last May, the Duke said that no matter what he did, he could not escape being a Royal.
“I am what I am, I can’t escape what I am,” he said, explaining there was nothing he could do.
And during an interview with The Cut in 2022, Meghan claimed both she and Harry were “upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy” by existing.
She concluded her scathing comments by saying the pair were “happy to leave” the UK.
Meghan told the outlet: “Anything to just … because just by existing, we were upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy.
“So we go, ‘Okay, fine, let’s get out of here. Happy to.’”
But after slamming the door on the UK and declaring her joy at leaving, Meghan now seems just as happy to come back.
Harry certainly looked pretty happy as news of their return broke last night.
