Following reports last week that Prince Harry is desperate to return to the UK, an expert has told OK! his desire to get his old life back is a source of frustration to his wife, Meghan Markle.
Entertainment commentator Mark Boardman told us that the 39-year-old Duke of Sussex “longs” for his friends and would love a home in London. But he said Meghan, 42, wants him to leave that chapter behind.
“Prince Harry’s social life has notably shifted over the past decade,” Mark said.
“He appears to have distanced himself from his college friends and lacks a permanent UK residence. During his visits to London, he typically resides in hotels and avoids public appearances. Undoubtedly, Prince Harry longs for his old friendships.”
But he added that frequently nipping to London from California to see friends would mean Harry spending time away from his wife and their children, Archie, four, and two-year-old Lilibet, which might not go down well at home.
“Meghan is frustrated that Harry wants his old life back,” said Mark. “Meghan loves Harry, but she wants to bring out the better side in him. And she’s quite clear on the roles that they should take together and they are trying to work better together on projects. People are eager to witness a transformed Harry, rather than a return to his previous partying lifestyle, which could lead to undesirable media attention.”
It was reported that Harry wanted a base in his home country after vacating Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate. There was talk that the King could be considering leasing one of the royal residences to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a claim since denied by Buckingham Palace.
Although yet to find a property across the pond, what is likely to keep Harry returning to the UK is his “strong relationships” with “childhood friends”. However, Mark added he would “find it hard to convince Meghan he needs a bit of a boys’ weekend in London meeting up with some old Eton buddies”.
He said, “He’s young at heart but he’s got someone to keep him in check and remind him who he is and what he’s supposed to be doing. Ultimately, he would 100% love a London base and he’d love it to be on royal grounds, even if it was in Windsor or one of the apartments in Buckingham Palace. But it’s not going to happen.
“London is where all of Harry’s real friends are. Everyone they know in Hollywood, they aren’t his friends,” he added.
“But ultimately, Meghan wants Harry to be by her side to support her, to look after the kids and to get his life back on track. And anything going backwards is going to take away from that.”
Despite Meghan’s frustration over Harry’s homesickness, Mark believes the Sussexes’ relationship remains strong and said they had even managed to get away for a few days in Portugal after their appearance at the Invictus Games in Germany last month.
However, royal expert and writer Duncan Larcombe said that despite having done a great job at the Games, of which he is both patron and founder, Harry didn’t look like his “old self” at the event.
Duncan said, “I think if you look at some of the original Invictus Games, Harry was much more at ease and more playing the role of joker in the pack to publicise it. I think it’s developed to the point now where it’s a serious business, a serious event and something that Harry is staking an awful lot on. I’m not sure that Harry is back to his old self in any shape or form.
“Harry was always brilliant because he never took himself too seriously and that seems to be the shift I’d say. Harry being very serious all the time doesn’t play to his strengths. He just doesn’t have that twinkle in the eye he used to have.”
Perhaps one thing that will be helping Harry get his twinkle back is the fact that he is thought to have reconnected with some members of his family, with Mark saying that he’s now back in touch with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
He said, “Meghan and Harry have reconnected with Sophie and Edward, and this renewed connection may serve as their gateway back into the royal household. Despite a significant age gap, both couples have endured substantial public scrutiny over the years.
“Their recent interactions during the Invictus Games demonstrate the ongoing bond between Harry and Sophie, who has consistently been a confidante for him.”
Could this be the start of a royal reconciliation? Only time will tell.
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