Prince Harry and Meghan plan return to UK after royal family rift

London – The couple’s announced return to Britain, reported by Mercury News and NBC News, appears to close a chapter that began with a blind‑date introduction, a high‑profile wedding and a public “step‑back” from senior royal duties.

The first public indication of a romantic link came when a mutual friend set up a blind date between Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle. Harry later confirmed the relationship, condemned the press for “racial undertones” in its coverage and warned of threats to her safety.

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In early 2020 the pair announced they would “step back” as senior royals, citing a desire for financial independence.

Legal battles soon followed. Harry launched lawsuits against three newspaper groups – Rupert Murdoch’s News Group, the Mirror Group and Associated Newspapers – alleging that stories about his school days, teenage behaviour and former relationships were obtained through hacking, bugging and other illegal means. Meghan secured an invasion‑of‑privacy victory against Associated Newspapers over a 2018 letter to her estranged father.

The security committee that oversees royal protection later decided Harry would no longer receive the same level of taxpayer‑funded protection he enjoyed as a full‑time royal. Harry responded with legal action against the U.K. Government. A three‑day hearing began, with his lawyers describing the downgrade as “unlawful and unfair.” The High Court dismissed his claim; an appeal was rejected by three Court of Appeal judges, who called the decision “sensible.” Harry later said the ruling meant he could not bring his wife and children to his home country.

Meanwhile, the Mirror Group case moved to the witness box. Harry became the first British royal in more than a century to testify in person. A judge ruled that Mirror newspapers had hired private investigators and engaged in illegal phone hacking for well over a decade, awarding Harry legal costs and £140,000 in damages.

Separately, the publisher of The Sun settled a separate suit, offering Harry “a full and unequivocal apology” for intrusions on his private life between 1996 and 2011.

The family narrative was further reshaped by royal milestones. Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96 after a seven‑decade reign, ushering her son onto the throne as King Charles III. Buckingham Palace later announced that Charles was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. The coronation at Westminster Abbey saw Harry in attendance, though Meghan and the children were absent.

In the months that followed, several personal encounters suggested a thaw. Harry arrived in the U.K. From California for a brief visit to his father, then returned a second time to meet charities, a trip that coincided with the third anniversary of the Queen’s death. He later joined King Charles for tea in London – the first meeting between father and son in more than a year – and the family gathered at Highgrove House, where Harry, Meghan and their two children met the king and Queen Camilla.

Prince Andrew also made headlines, announcing he would relinquish the Duke of York title and other honours after