Harry and Meghan returned to Britain, and then Trump had something to say

After six years in California, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have brought their family back to Britain for a major new chapter. Their return with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet has already fueled questions about where they will live, where the children will attend school, and whether the move could bring them closer to the royal family.

Then Donald Trump weighed in. On September 2, the U.S. president said he was “happy” that Harry and Meghan had left America, called himself “not a fan,” and accused Meghan of being “terribly disrespectful” toward the royal family. And now, with King Charles reaffirming on September 7 that the Sussexes will remain non-working royals, their return is raising even bigger questions about what their future in Britain will actually look like.

Harry and Meghan land back in Britain

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle returned to Britain in August 2026 after 6 years living in California. The couple brought their 2 children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, back to the UK for an extended stay. Their return prompted speculation about where the family would live and whether they would establish a longer-term base in Britain.

The move also renewed questions about their relationship with the wider royal family. On September 2, President Donald Trump said he was happy Harry and Meghan had left the United States, called himself “not a fan” and accused Meghan of being “terribly disrespectful” toward the royal family.

Trump breaks his silence on the move

Trump addressed the issue during an Oval Office question-and-answer session on September 2. A reporter asked him how he personally felt about the couple’s sudden departure. He answered the question without much hesitation.

I am happy about it, Trump told the assembled reporters that day. He added that he had never really been a fan of the couple. His remarks were his first publicly reported comments since their return.

The president spoke openly about his personal opinion of the pair. He made no real attempt to soften his tone for the cameras. His comments quickly drew attention from reporters still in the room.

The president recalls his royal friendships

Trump used the moment to reflect fondly on his own ties to the British monarchy. He said he once had a very good relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth II. He described getting to know her personally over several years of visits.

Trump also praised King Charles III warmly during that same exchange. He said he had known Charles for a very long time now. He called the king a great guy in front of reporters.

These friendly comments framed his later criticism of Harry and Meghan more sharply. Trump suggested his own fondness for the royals shaped his reaction. He implied their conduct clashed with his personal view of the family.

Sharp criticism aimed at the Duchess

Trump singled out Meghan for the most pointed criticism of the exchange. He said he simply did not like the way she acted. He called her terribly disrespectful toward both the Queen and King Charles.

Trump said the couple had treated the royal family with great disrespect overall. He repeated several times that he did not like their behavior. His comments echoed harsh criticism he had made of Meghan in the past.

The president went on to say he would not have welcomed the couple back. If I were the royal family, I would not have taken them back, he said plainly. His remarks suggested little sympathy for their reported efforts at reconciliation.

A history of friction between the 2

Trump and Meghan have clashed publicly before. In 2019, Trump denied calling Meghan “nasty” after an interview in which he said, “I didn’t know that she was nasty.” He later clarified that he meant Meghan had been “nasty about me,” rather than saying that she was generally nasty.

The exchange came shortly before Trump’s 2019 state visit to the UK. Meghan had previously criticized Trump’s political views before marrying Prince Harry. Their latest exchange has revived attention on their earlier public disagreement.

A new home takes shape nearby

Harry and Meghan have reportedly been considering a home in the Cotswolds, an area that has emerged as a possible base for the family outside London. Recent reports have linked the couple to the region, but their exact residence has not been publicly confirmed.

The Cotswolds would place the family relatively close to Highgrove House, King Charles III’s private country residence in Gloucestershire. Harry spent part of his childhood at Highgrove, making the area personally familiar to him.

The couple’s possible move has attracted attention because the Cotswolds are already home to a number of high-profile residents and are known for their privacy and rural setting.

Local reaction to the couple’s arrival

News of the potential move drew mixed reactions from local residents nearby. Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield said some Cotswolds residents were not overly excited about it. She explained that the area generally values privacy and a quiet lifestyle.

Some longtime locals worried the couple would draw extra unwanted media attention to the area. Schofield suggested Harry could ease that tension simply by keeping a low profile. She said the family should try to settle in quietly over time.

Other residents, however, said they were already used to famous neighbors. One local hospitality worker said people would not react much to the couple. He said locals in the area tend to respect other people’s privacy.

What the return means for royal ties

Harry and Meghan have returned to Britain without resuming official royal duties. On September 7, King Charles formally reaffirmed that they remain non-working members of the Royal Family and that their charitable activities are conducted privately.

The couple’s return follows a private July meeting at Highgrove, where King Charles and Queen Camilla met Harry, Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet. The meeting was the first time the King had seen his grandchildren in 4 years.

Harry’s relationship with his older brother, Prince William, remains strained. Despite the family’s recent contact, there has been no announcement that Harry and Meghan will resume official royal duties.

Little-known fact: Before her acting career, Meghan Markle worked as a briefcase model on the game show Deal or No Deal.

TL;DR

• Harry and Meghan returned to Britain in August 2026 after 6 years living in the United States.
• Trump said he was happy about their departure and called himself not a fan of the couple.
• He praised his past relationships with the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III.
• Trump criticized Meghan directly, calling her behavior toward the royal family disrespectful.
• The couple is reportedly settling near the Cotswolds, close to King Charles’s Highgrove estate.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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