Donald Trump has said he would not have welcomed Prince Harry and Meghan back into the UK, accusing the couple of treating the Royal Family with “great disrespect”.
The US President was speaking after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to Britain for an extended stay, six years after stepping back from official royal duties and moving to California.
“I was happy about it. I was not a fan,” Mr Trump told reporters during a question-and-answer session at the White House.
He added: “I thought they treated the royal family with great disrespect. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the way she acted. I thought she was terribly disrespectful to the Queen and to King Charles.”
Mr Trump, who has frequently expressed admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth II, then said: “If I were the Royal Family, I would not have taken them back.”
His comments appeared to place particular responsibility on Meghan for the long-running rift, reviving his criticism of what he has portrayed as her influence over Harry. On previous occasions, he has described the Duchess as “terrible” and questioned what she had done to the prince.
Mr Trump also praised King Charles, saying he had a “very good relationship” with the monarch, whom he previously knew as the Prince of Wales, as well as with the late Queen.
Harry and Meghan are understood to have returned to Britain with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. They are not expected to resume official royal duties, while any reconciliation with Prince William remains uncertain.
