Executive Overview
The unexpected announcement that Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, are relocating their primary residence back to the United Kingdom marks a historic inflection point in modern royal history. Four years after stepping back from senior royal duties—a move colloquially termed "Megxit"—the couple’s departure from Montecito, California, has triggered geopolitical, institutional, and media commentary on both sides of the Atlantic.
Among the most vocal public responses has come from political figures in the United States, notably former U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking to reporters on September 2, 2026, Trump expressed unequivocal satisfaction regarding the couple’s exit from the United States, re-igniting long-standing debates regarding soft power, statecraft, and the delicate protocols governing transatlantic diplomatic relations.
Trump’s remarks reflect a broader ideological divide surrounding traditional monarchical institutions versus modern celebrity culture. By openly supporting King Charles III and the memory of Queen Elizabeth II while sharply criticizing the Sussexes, Trump emphasized themes of institutional loyalty, personal respect, and monarchical authority. His intervention underscores how the private decisions of the British Royal Family continue to intersect with global political discourse, legal scrutiny over international visas, and public relations strategies.
Detailed Chronology: From ‘Megxit’ to Transatlantic Recourse
To contextualize the couple’s return to Great Britain and Donald Trump’s immediate reaction, it is essential to examine the sequence of events that characterized their six-year trajectory.
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| TIMELINE OF EVENTS |
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| Jan 2020 : Sussexes step back from senior royal roles; relocate to California |
| Mar 2021 : Landmark Oprah Winfrey interview airs; widespread public debate |
| Dec 2022 : Release of six-part Netflix docuseries, 'Harry & Meghan' |
| Jan 2023 : Publication of Prince Harry's memoir, 'Spare' |
| May 2023 : Conservative think tanks file U.S. lawsuits over Harry's visa status |
| Mid-2025 : Shift in media production strategy and public relations positioning |
| Sep 2026 : Formal announcement of UK return; Trump issues public statement |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+The Initial Departure and Transatlantic Transition (2020–2021)
In January 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their intention to step back as "top-tier" working members of the Royal Family, citing intense media pressure, lack of institutional support, and a desire for financial independence. After a brief stay in Vancouver Island, Canada, the couple permanently relocated to Montecito, California, in mid-2020.
Their initial years in North America were marked by aggressive media expansion, including multi-million-dollar content deals with streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify. In March 2021, the couple participated in a high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey, raising allegations of racism, neglect, and institutional rigidity within the Royal Household.
Media Saturation, Literary Releases, and Escalating Tension (2022–2024)
The media push intensified in late 2022 with the premiere of the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, followed quickly in January 2023 by Prince Harry’s controversial memoir, Spare. While the memoir broke international sales records, it drew fierce criticism from conservative commentators and institutional loyalists for exposing intimate private conversations involving King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and Prince William.
Concurrently, Prince Harry faced legal scrutiny within the United States. In May 2023, the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington D.C. think tank, filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The suit sought the public release of Prince Harry’s immigration records, arguing that admissions of illegal drug use detailed in Spare should have legally disqualified him from entry or resident alien status under federal law.
Institutional Realignment and Departure (2025–2026)
By late 2025, commercial interest in the couple’s media ventures began to shift. The non-renewal of their Spotify contract, alongside strategic pivots by major streaming services, fueled public debate regarding their long-term economic model and public standing.
In September 2026, details confirmed that the couple had initiated a permanent residential move back to the United Kingdom. On September 2, 2026, reporters questioned Donald Trump regarding the exit. His reaction provided immediate validation to those advocating for traditional monarchical boundaries.
Supporting Context & Metrics: Public Opinion, Legal Pressures, and Economics
The decisions leading to the Sussexes’ return—and the political commentary surrounding it—are grounded in measurable shifts across public polling, legal proceedings, and global brand metrics.
Public Opinion Trends in the U.S. and U.K.
Polling data from YouGov illustrates a distinct shift in public sentiment regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex between 2020 and 2026:
- United Kingdom Net Favorability: Prince Harry’s favorability rating dropped from +20% prior to ‘Megxit’ in early 2020 to historical lows near -35% following the publication of Spare. Meghan Markle’s favorability mirrored this decline, stabilizing near -40% among British respondents.
- United States Net Favorability: Initially greeted with high approval ratings (+30% in late 2020), public sentiment in the U.S. gradually softened. Following the continuous disclosures in late 2022 and early 2023, their U.S. favorability fell into negative territory (-7% in early 2024), reflecting a saturation of personal narrative journalism.
ESTIMATED NET FAVORABILITY RATINGS (2020 vs. 2026)
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U.K. Favorability (Prince Harry)
2020: [####################] +20%
2026: [-------------------] -35%
U.S. Favorability (Prince Harry)
2020: [------------------------------] +30%
2026: [-------] -7%The Legal and Visa Scrutiny Factor
Legal observers suggest that sustained political pressure regarding Prince Harry’s visa status created an increasingly complex operating environment in the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security faced repeated court hearings over whether royal privilege influenced the approval of his visa application despite acknowledged past substance use—a standard questionnaire disclosure that frequently triggers secondary processing or denial for non-citizens.
Economic Realities of Independent Royal Branding
The economic foundation of the Sussexes’ Montecito enterprise relied heavily on global platform distribution. The financial realities of producing high-budget media content faced headwinds due to industry-wide cost-cutting in Hollywood. Re-anchoring operations in the United Kingdom offers proximity to European philanthropic markets and access to secure, established institutional networks, despite ongoing challenges surrounding personal security details managed by the Home Office.
Official Statements & Rhetoric Analysis
The explicit commentary provided by Donald Trump on September 2, 2026, offers insight into the political dimensions of the royal rift.
Analysis of Donald Trump’s Remarks
When asked by reporters for his reaction to the couple leaving the United States and returning to Great Britain, Trump stated:
"I’m happy about it. I was not a fan. I had a very good relationship with the Queen. [I have] a really good relationship with King Charles. I’ve known him for a long time. He’s a great guy. And I thought [Meghan and Harry] treated the royal family with great disrespect. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the way she acted. I thought she was terribly disrespectful to the Queen, to King Charles. And I don’t know, maybe I’m different; I wouldn’t have taken them back. Frankly, if I were the royal family, I would not have taken them back."
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| KEY ELEMENTS OF TRUMP'S RHETORIC |
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| Direct Approval | "I'm happy about it. I was not a fan." |
| Institutional Focus | Reaffirmation of ties to Queen Elizabeth II & King Charles |
| Narrative Attribution| Primary critique directed toward Meghan's conduct |
| Advice to the Crown | Expresses skepticism regarding royal reconciliation |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+Rhetorical Patterns and Gender Disparities
Media analysts have noted a consistent pattern in public political critiques of the Sussexes, where commentary frequently focuses on Meghan Markle rather than Prince Harry. While Trump emphasized "the way she acted" and singled out her perceived disrespect toward the late Queen and King Charles, investigative media observers point out that Prince Harry himself was the sole author of Spare, filed multiple domestic lawsuits, and initiated key public critiques of royal operations.
Trump’s framing appeals directly to traditionalist voters who value formal institutional hierarchies, historical protocol, and deference to established authority figures like the British monarch. By positioning himself as a defender of the Crown’s legacy, Trump aligned his political rhetoric with traditional diplomatic etiquette and sovereign authority.
Future Outlook: Constitutional Alignment and Institutional Reconciliation
The return of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to the United Kingdom introduces complex operational and constitutional questions for Buckingham Palace, the British government, and the international diplomatic core.
Managing Sovereign and Non-Working Roles
King Charles III faces the delicate task of balancing paternal reconciliation with sovereign duty. The legal framework surrounding non-working royals remains stringent:
- Official Representation: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not expected to return to official public duties on behalf of the Crown, maintaining their status as private citizens holding hereditary titles.
- Counsellors of State: Under the Counsellors of State Act 2022, Parliament expanded the pool of royals who can act on behalf of the King to include Princess Anne and Prince Edward, effectively bypassing non-working members like Prince Harry without stripping titles directly.
- Security Protocols: The legal dispute regarding the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) remains a key consideration. The level of state-funded police protection granted to the family during their UK residency will carry political and budgetary implications.
Transatlantic Diplomatic Relations
The departure of the Sussexes removes a persistent point of cultural friction within American political discourse. While their presence in California highlighted modern transatlantic celebrity dynamics, their reintegration into British geography allows U.S. political figures to engage with the British Royal Family through standardized diplomatic channels without the complication of domestic royal controversies.
Ultimately, the Sussexes’ return to the United Kingdom represents a definitive closing of their initial North American chapter. As King Charles III navigates his reign amid ongoing health considerations and constitutional duties, the institutional response to Harry and Meghan’s return will serve as a critical case study in monarchical resilience, public relations strategy, and modern constitutional governance.
