Donald Trump has welcomed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to Britain, while saying he believed the couple had treated the Royal Family with “great disrespect” after stepping down from official duties.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, the US president said he was “happy” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had left their home in Montecito, California, for an extended stay in the UK.
“I was not a fan,” Mr Trump said, before praising his relationships with the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles.
“I thought they treated the Royal Family with great disrespect. I didn’t like it,” he said. “I didn’t like the way she acted. I thought she was terribly disrespectful to the Queen, to King Charles.”
Asked whether he would have welcomed the Sussexes back had he been a member of the Royal Family, Mr Trump replied: “I wouldn’t have taken them back. If I were the Royal Family, I would not have taken them back.”
Prince Harry and Meghan’s return to the UK
Harry and Meghan arrived back in Britain on 26 August with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The family is expected to remain in the country for an extended period, with the children due to attend a British school in September.
The couple are reportedly considering a home in the Cotswolds, although they are expected to retain their property in Montecito and a holiday home in Portugal.
King Charles was informed of the plans before they were publicly reported. ITV News said the King welcomed the opportunity to see more of the Sussexes in a private and personal capacity, but there were no plans for Harry or Meghan to resume official royal duties.
The move marks a significant change for the couple, who relocated to the United States in 2020 after stepping back as senior working royals. They have since built a private life in California while speaking publicly about their experiences within the Royal Family and their treatment by the British press.
Reports have suggested that dissatisfaction with the direction of the United States under Mr Trump was among the factors considered by the couple, although the Sussexes have not publicly given a detailed explanation for the move.
Reaction from figures close to the Trump administration was less measured. Katie Miller, the wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, shared a report about the relocation and wrote that Harry and Meghan were “moving back to Britain because they don’t like President Trump”.
Mr Trump’s comments underline the contrast between his view of the Sussexes and his publicly warm relationship with King Charles. The president hosted the King and Queen Camilla at a White House state dinner in April, where the pair exchanged jokes about the countries’ shared history.
