A prominent royal commentator has issued a stark warning about the future of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, suggesting "deeply divided priorities" could pose a significant challenge for the couple. The analysis comes amid persistent rumours about their marriage and growing speculation about a potential return visit to the United Kingdom.
The Strain of Solo Ventures and Security Decisions
The latest wave of scrutiny followed Prince Harry's solo trip to Aspen, Colorado, in the week before Christmas. The 41-year-old royal enjoyed a skiing holiday and participated in a snow polo championship with friends, including polo player Nacho Figueras. Meanwhile, Meghan Markle, 44, remained at the family's Montecito home with their children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.
Although Meghan publicly supported her husband by sharing a photo of him on horseback to her Instagram, the separate activities fuelled fresh "heading for divorce" headlines. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told the Mirror that while Harry is used to such rumours, they still anger him. Harry himself has previously brushed off the speculation, joking in 2024 that the couple had "apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times".
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According to Fitzwilliams, the core issue lies in the couple's diverging focuses. "Harry clearly wants to do more in the UK, and rebuild a relationship with his father, while Meghan is focused on her business," he stated. The expert highlighted the apparent mismatch, noting, "I can’t see how Harry would fit into the As Ever lifestyle and cookery world, and Meghan has no affection for Britain."
This divide is set to be thrown into sharp relief by an impending decision from the Home Office. A review into reinstating state-funded security for Harry and his family during UK visits is reportedly nearly complete and is widely expected to rule in his favour. This could force a major decision about a joint return to Britain.
The 'Catastrophe' of a Potential UK Return
Fitzwilliams suggests a UK trip could be a "huge test" for the Sussexes, particularly for Meghan. He points to her low popularity in recent UK polls—citing a 25% rating in YouGov's most recent survey—as a major complication. "If Harry is keen to come to a country... that Meghan doesn’t want to appear in, it’s only going to exacerbate any difficulties between them," he explained.
"Her coming back could be a complete catastrophe, depending on how they managed it," Fitzwilliams added. "The polls indicate that Meghan is largely detested by the public so how would she handle that fierce hostility?"
Despite the challenges and loud "outside noise", the commentator believes the couple remain "emotionally committed to each other". He concluded that it would take "an earthquake of an event" for them to divorce, not least because of the immense "loss of face" it would entail after their very public journey. For now, the world watches as they navigate their increasingly separate paths.
