King Charles and Prince William Hold ‘Sussex Summit’ at Balmoral as Harry and Meghan’s UK Return Forces Royal Family to Confront What Comes Next
The King is seen behind the wheel of a hybrid electric Range Rover Sport Autobiography today
Prince Edward is driven by his son James, Earl of Wessex, outside Balmoral this morning
King Charles and Prince William have reportedly held private discussions at Balmoral over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s unexpected return to Britain, as the Royal Family begins working through the practical and personal consequences of the Sussexes once again living in the UK.
The King, the Prince and Princess of Wales and several other members of the family were photographed around the Balmoral estate as their annual summer gathering continued in Aberdeenshire.
Charles, 77, was seen driving a hybrid Range Rover Sport Autobiography near the estate, while William and Kate travelled together in a Land Rover Discovery. Princess Anne, Zara and Mike Tindall and Prince Edward were also among the royals spotted leaving Balmoral.
According to the Daily Mail, the family were believed to be heading towards the area around Corgarff Castle for grouse shooting.
But behind the familiar scenes of the royal summer break, one subject is reportedly dominating private conversations: Harry and Meghan’s imminent return.
Charles and William reportedly discuss the Sussexes’ return
The newspaper reports that Charles and William have held what has been described as a “Sussex summit” following confirmation that Harry and Meghan intend to return to Britain with Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.
The announcement came publicly on Wednesday, only days after the King was reportedly informed of the plan.
Charles is understood to have learned on Sunday that his younger son intended to relocate back to Britain for an extended period. William was also reportedly told before the news became public.
The timing was nevertheless surprising.
Sources told the Daily Mail that the subject had not been discussed during Harry and Meghan’s private meeting with Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove in July.
Other members of the wider royal circle were also reportedly unaware that plans for such a substantial return were already underway.
William is reportedly in no rush to reconcile
A welcoming ceremony for King Charles III as he arrives at the Balmoral estate on Tuesday
King Charles III meets well-wishers following the Balmoral welcoming ceremony on Tuesday
While Charles appears increasingly open to rebuilding his relationship with Harry, the situation involving William remains far more difficult.
A source told the Daily Mail that the Prince of Wales currently has “no desire whatsoever” to reconcile with his younger brother.
William and Kate are also said to have little interest in publicly engaging with Harry and Meghan’s actions or comments.
The relationship between the brothers has been badly damaged by events following the Sussexes’ departure from royal duties in 2020.
Harry later made a series of highly personal claims about William and other relatives through interviews, the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan and his 2023 memoir Spare.
William and Kate have not publicly reacted to the latest announcement.
They are spending the Balmoral break with Prince George, 13, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight.
Harry’s move puts the security issue back at the centre
One of the most immediate questions facing the family concerns security.
Harry and Meghan are expected to live in a private, non-royal property outside London. Their children have already been enrolled in British schools and are expected to begin classes in early September.
That raises the question of what protection the family will receive — and who will pay for it.
Harry has spent years challenging changes to his security arrangements after stepping back as a working royal.
When he and Meghan announced their departure in January 2020, they initially proposed becoming financially independent while dividing their time between Britain and North America.
Queen Elizabeth II ultimately rejected the possibility of a “half-in, half-out” arrangement during the Sandringham Summit.
By March 2020, the Sussexes had formally stepped down as senior working royals and later established themselves in California.
Their return now brings many of those unresolved security questions back into focus.
Protection could reportedly cost millions
Former Metropolitan Police head of royal protection Dai Davies suggested that protecting Harry, Meghan and their children on a permanent or near-permanent basis could become extremely expensive.
A separate security source cited by the Daily Mail estimated that round-the-clock protection for a family of four could cost between £3 million and £5 million per year.
That estimate has already reignited debate over whether British taxpayers should be responsible for the expense.
Decisions about protection are made through the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, commonly known as Ravec.
The committee considers factors including intelligence, threat assessments and the individual circumstances of public figures.
Harry had still been awaiting a further security review earlier this summer.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the matter should ultimately be determined by security professionals, noting that Harry remains the King’s son and is inherently a high-profile figure regardless of whether he is a working royal.
Charles appears to see an opportunity
The King’s approach appears markedly different from William’s.
Charles is understood to welcome the possibility of spending more time with Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet.
The family’s July reunion at Highgrove marked the first time the King had seen his California-based grandchildren in four years.
A source close to Harry told People that living in Britain again could provide the strongest opportunity in years to repair the relationship between the brothers.
The source argued that meaningful reconciliation would have been extremely difficult while Harry remained based in America.
There has reportedly been no recent direct contact between Harry and William.
The source nevertheless suggested that Catherine could eventually play a role in helping bridge the divide because of the importance she places on family.
That remains speculation, however, and there has been no public indication from William or Kate that they are preparing for such a reconciliation.
No return to working royal life
Despite Harry and Meghan’s move, their constitutional and professional status is not expected to change.
They will remain non-working members of the Royal Family.
Charles is also understood to remain firmly opposed to reviving any version of the “half-in, half-out” arrangement rejected by Queen Elizabeth.
Harry and Meghan will continue pursuing their own commercial and charitable interests.
Meghan is expected to continue operating her lifestyle brand, As Ever, from Britain, while Harry will maintain his charitable work and other projects.
Their children will not be treated in the same way as the children of working royals when it comes to official photographs and public school appearances.
California and Portugal remain part of their lives
The Sussexes are also not abandoning their international homes.
They are expected to retain their Montecito mansion in California, purchased in 2020 for $14.65 million.
The nine-bedroom property covers approximately 14,563 square feet and sits on 5.4 acres with a swimming pool, tennis court and landscaped grounds.
Harry and Meghan also reportedly intend to keep their £6.3 million property on Portugal’s Melides coast.
Their British return therefore appears less like a complete relocation away from America and more like the establishment of a substantial new UK base.
Public opinion remains difficult
The family’s return is taking place against a challenging backdrop of British public opinion.
According to a YouGov poll of 5,810 adults cited in the report, only 21 percent said they supported Harry and Meghan returning to the UK, while 45 percent were unsure.
Separate polling showed Meghan viewed positively by 22 percent of respondents and negatively by 65 percent.
Harry’s numbers were somewhat stronger, with 33 percent viewing him positively and 58 percent negatively.
William remained the most popular senior royal in the cited polling at 76 percent, followed closely by Catherine at 74 percent. Charles stood at 62 percent.
Balmoral now becomes the first test
The scenes at Balmoral may look like an ordinary royal summer gathering, but Harry and Meghan’s decision has changed the conversation behind the gates.
Charles appears to see his son’s return as an opportunity to rebuild family ties.
William, according to current reports, sees things very differently.
And between those two positions sit a series of difficult questions involving security, money, family relationships and the Sussexes’ place alongside — but still outside — the working monarchy.
Harry and Meghan may not be returning as working royals.
But once they are living in Britain again, the issues that have divided the family for six years will no longer be separated by thousands of miles.
