Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have returned to the UK this week — just days after announcing plans to relocate to Britain with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The move has reignited debate about the couple’s future, with fresh speculation over whether Meghan intends to resume her acting career and what their return means for their life outside the Royal Family.
Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 and moved to California. Since then, they have built a life in the US focused on media projects, philanthropy, and raising their two children.
Their announcement this week that they intend to relocate back to the UK came as a surprise. The couple landed in Britain this week, prompting immediate questions about the reasons behind the move and how long they plan to stay.
Royal observers note that this is the most significant signal yet that the Sussexes are seeking to re-establish a base in the UK, after years of living primarily in Montecito, California Within hours of the announcement, speculation began that Meghan’s return was linked to a possible acting comeback. Reports suggested the Duchess had held talks about a role in season three of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series The Gentlemen.
However, senior television executives who spoke to Sky News said there is “no chance” that a TV role is the reason for the relocation one producer who has worked with Netflix said: “You don’t uproot your family for one role in a show.” The same source added that while there may have been early discussions about “a part for two episodes,” the idea was quickly dropped.
“I doubt the producers or Netflix are enjoying this kind of attention,” they said, suggesting the publicity around Meghan joining the cast was considered “terrible” from a production standpoint.
Another executive acknowledged that casting Meghan would “attract publicity” and could bring “higher ratings” because of her global profile. “I don’t think people would stop watching because she is in it. They have a fanbase already and there is the possibility that Meghan could add some audience.
“You need actors who inhabit roles and are believable. How do you get over the fact she’s a duchess?” one said. “I don’t think Meghan would get a project greenlit just with her attached because, despite her being quite famous, it’s quite an unknown, and she is divisive.
Practical concerns were also raised. “Imagine the security we would need on set,” another TV insider noted, pointing to the logistical challenges of filming with a member of the Royal Family.
Before marrying Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan built a successful acting career. She is best known for playing paralegal Rachel Zane in the legal drama Suits, a role she held for seven seasons.
She gave up acting to take on royal duties and charitable work. Since leaving royal life, she has not returned to on-screen acting.
Instead, the Sussexes signed multi-million-pound deals with Spotify for podcasts and with Netflix for a range of programs. Their Spotify deal ended, and Meghan’s lifestyle series With Love, Meghan was not renewed for a third season. Reports suggest the couple remain on a downgraded first-look deal with Netflix.
There is little precedent for a woman who married into the Royal Family returning to a full-time entertainment career. When Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, married Prince Edward, she gave up her PR career.
“It will be hard for Meghan to find the right roles. She’s had success, and she’s a good actress,” one executive said. “But she’s not Grace Kelly, who was a world-famous actress who became a princess.”
POPULARITY AND PUBLIC REACTION IN THE UK
Since 2020, public opinion of the Sussexes in the UK has shifted significantly. Polls and commentary suggest their popularity has declined since they stepped back from royal duties.
That poses a challenge if they are to rebuild a public life in Britain. Questions are already being asked about security, funding, and what role — if any — they will take in public life.
A former royal protection officer has suggested the couple “should get state-funded security,” but there remains uncertainty over who would pay for protection if they are based in the UK for extended periods. Estimates have suggested costs could run into the millions.
A UK base would put them closer to the Royal Family and to British charities and causes they support. It could also make it easier to manage business interests and media projects aimed at both UK and US audiences.
The couple have said their priority is their children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet. Meghan recently shared photos of Archie to mark his birthday. The decision to relocate appears to be framed around family life as much as career.
Industry sources agree that while Meghan’s name still generates headlines, translating that into a sustainable acting career in the UK would be complicated by her status, public perception, and security needs.for now, the Sussexes have not announced specific plans for work or residence in the UK. Their team has not commented on the Netflix rumors or on the length of their stay.
What is clear is that their return has once again placed them at the center of public discussion in Britain — this time not over royal duties, but over where they will live, how they will work, and what their next chapter will look like.After five years in California, Harry and Meghan are back on British soil. Whether this marks a permanent shift or an extended visit remains to be seen, but the conversation about their future has already begun.
