Prince Harry and Meghan will depart UK for 3 causes, ex-Royal Family staffer claims
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have only been back living in the UK for less than one month — but one former Buckingham Palace spokesman believes the Sussex royals could leave again soon
Harry and Meghan during a visit to Sydney(Image: Getty)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been residing back in the UK for fewer than four weeks — but one former Buckingham Palace spokesperson reckons the pair will bid farewell once more sooner rather than later.
Dickie Arbiter served as a secretary to The Queen, the then-Prince Charles and Diana while working within the Buckingham Palace press office from 1988 to 2000.
He has recently penned a book titled On Duty with the Royals: The Inside Story of the Modern Monarchy. Speaking on the At Home with Vanessa podcast, he set out three explanations for why the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will abandon the UK again.
Limited Objective
Harry and Meghan stunned the globe six years ago when they declared their intention to step down as working royals. The move, dubbed Megxit, resulted in the couple departing the UK within days alongside their children Archie and Lilibet.
Yet they recently revealed they were returning from California, which sparked equal astonishment. Dickie was quizzed about this by Vanessa Feltz.
Will they stay or will they go?(Image: Getty)
He remarked: “I don’t believe for a moment they will last in the United Kingdom. I think one of the main reasons Harry’s come back is that he wants a hands on with the Invictus Games which is in Birmingham next year, July. I’m not sure the organisers want him too hands on, but they’ll welcome his presence to publicise it.”
Misaligned Expectations
Speaking about whether the news took him aback, Dickie, who once fielded a frantic 5am phone call from Princess Diana, revealed: “Surprised about coming back? I think everybody was surprised. Even the King was surprised because he didn’t know when they had tea at the beginning of July. Nothing was said. And he only learned three days before they arrived that they were coming back.”
Nevertheless, Dickie reckons Harry may have harboured unrealistic expectations, which could lead to him choosing to relocate to another nation in the future.
He elaborated: “Harry probably thought, well, go back to England, get the red carpet treatment, get the security I want, and everything will be fine, that’d he’d try and finagle his way back into becoming a working member of the Royal Family.
Dickie Arbiter at the gates of Buckingham Palace in 1992(Image: Getty)
“Well, he got a comeuppance last Monday when he was told that nothing had changed from the 2020 Sandringham Summit, in the January of that year, that he’s not a working royal. He chose to opt out, he chose to be financially independent and he’s not a working royal.”
Harry has become entangled in a dispute over taxpayer-funded protection, with sources close to the pair revealing to the Daily Mail that the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) ruling on his security arrangements will determine whether they decide to stay in Britain or not.
Absence of official position
A letter recently dispatched on behalf of King Charles clarified that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be serving royals permitted to undertake official duties now they have returned to UK soil.
They are prohibited from using the titles “His and Her Royal Highness” and the letter further confirmed their status as “private citizens”. This royal correspondence was sent to Harry’s team, government departments, military officials and Lord Lieutenants, as per reports.
Dickie suggests this could provide a third reason why Harry and his family may not settle for long. He stated: “I think he also thinks that he might be able to work around his father to get him back in the fold, but his father’s made it very clear there ain’t no job for you. You’re on your own, son.”
