Queen Camilla is understood to be backing the Prince and Princess of Wales as the Royal Family prepares for the return of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Britain, according to royal historian Andrew Lownie.
The Sussexes arrived at Birmingham Airport on Wednesday, August 26, with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, after flying privately from California. The family is expected to remain in the UK for an extended period, with the children due to begin at a British school in September.
Harry and Meghan are expected to live at a private, non-royal property outside London, widely believed to be in the Cotswolds. There are currently no indications that either will resume official working roles within the Royal Family.
Mr Lownie said the development had raised concerns in royal circles about the possibility of the Sussexes pursuing a version of the “half-in, half-out” arrangement they proposed before stepping down from royal duties in 2020.
He claimed the King and the Prince of Wales had been aware for some time that Harry and Meghan were considering a return, although their plans were kept at arm’s length while public reaction was assessed.
“The King and the Prince of Wales have long been aware of the Sussexes’ plan to return to Britain, but it has suited their purposes to distance themselves whilst public opinion is tested,” Mr Lownie said.
He added that the Waleses were concerned the move could create the prospect of “two competing courts”, with the Sussexes maintaining a prominent public profile while living close to the centre of royal life.
According to Mr Lownie, Camilla has become particularly close to Catherine, Princess of Wales, in recent years and is encouraging the King to take a more clearly defined approach to his younger son and daughter-in-law.
“The Queen, who is very close to Kate, has been stiffening the resolve of the King to establish clear boundaries for Harry and Meghan,” he said.
Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace have been approached for comment.
The claims come after a period of continued strain between Harry and members of the Royal Family. His memoir, Spare, published in January 2023, included a critical account of Camilla and described her efforts to improve her public standing after the breakdown of Charles’s marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales.
Harry later repeated some of those criticisms during an interview with CBS News host Anderson Cooper. He accused Camilla of exchanging information with the press and said her media relationships made her “dangerous”, although he also said he loved every member of his family.
The Duke subsequently acknowledged that he had not spoken to Camilla for a considerable period. He said that when they did meet, their interactions were polite.
Harry and Camilla were reunited at Highgrove last month when the King and Queen hosted the Sussexes and their children for tea at the Gloucestershire residence. The Prince and Princess of Wales did not attend, having instead taken part in a charity polo event.
People familiar with the meeting described the atmosphere as courteous but restrained. Mr Lownie cautioned that the encounter should not be interpreted as a full reconciliation, suggesting Camilla’s public warmth did not necessarily mean that old grievances had been resolved.
The Queen has nevertheless been seen sharing cordial moments with Catherine at major royal occasions. They presented a united front at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday last year, while Camilla has also appeared to develop a friendly relationship with members of the Middleton family.
Mr Lownie said the wider Royal Family was likely to adopt a cautious approach to the Sussexes’ return, observing how they conducted themselves and whether private conversations remained confidential.
“They will be trying to gauge public reaction, to see if the Sussexes can be trusted not to betray confidences,” he said, referring to the disclosures made in Spare, the couple’s Netflix series and Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The return also brings renewed attention to the Duke’s long-running dispute over his security arrangements in the UK. In May 2025, the Court of Appeal upheld a decision that the committee responsible for royal and public-figure protection was entitled to provide Harry with a different level of publicly funded police security after his change in status within the Royal Family.
The ruling did not prevent security assessments being made for individual visits, but confirmed that Harry was not automatically entitled to the same protection he received as a working senior royal.
The Sussexes’ arrival marks their first move to establish a family base in Britain since relocating to the United States six years ago. They are expected to retain their home in California, while Meghan continues to develop her lifestyle business and Harry maintains links with several charitable causes.
For now, neither the King nor the Prince of Wales has publicly commented on the family’s plans. The absence of an official response is likely to reinforce the impression that the Palace intends to observe the Sussexes’ return carefully before deciding how far, and on what terms, the relationship can be rebuilt.
