Donald Trump doesn't mince words. When reporters asked him in the Oval Office about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle packing up their California life to move back to Britain, he didn't sugarcoat his reaction.
"I'm happy about it," Trump told the press. "No, I was not a fan."
That blunt admission cuts straight to the core of how polarizing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain on the global stage. After roughly six years living in Montecito, California, trying to crack Hollywood, producing Netflix content, and launching various commercial ventures, the couple headed back across the Atlantic. Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have reportedly enrolled in British schools.
Trump made it clear that if he belonged to the House of Windsor, the red carpet wouldn't have been rolled out.
"If I were the royal family, I would not have taken them back," he stated.
The Core Grievance
Trump's beef with the couple isn't new, but his timing brings fresh scrutiny to an already strained family dynamic. He pointed directly to what he views as poor treatment of the British monarchy. He claimed they treated the royal family with "great disrespect," singling out Meghan Markle for her behavior toward the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles.
"I didn't like the way she acted," Trump said. "I thought she was terribly disrespectful to the Queen, to King Charles."
Contrast that with Trump's self-professed warm ties to the institution. He frequently highlights his rapport with the late Queen and his long-standing connection to King Charles. For a politician who values traditional hierarchy and public displays of deference, the Sussexes' explosive Oprah interview, Netflix docuseries, and Harry's tell-all memoir Spare crossed a line.
Why the US Chapter Lost Its Luster
The move back to the UK marks a massive pivot from 2020, when Harry and Meghan fled the British tabloids seeking privacy and financial independence in North America. They traded royal palaces for a $14 million California mansion. Yet, maintaining that lifestyle came with heavy financial and public relations burdens.
Hollywood didn't turn out to be the easy goldmine many expected. While they secured high-profile deals, commercial pressures mounted. Reports indicate that heading back to Britain before hitting the ten-year mark means losing out on specific United States tax benefits. That sacrifice suggests the pull of home—or the push away from their American experiment—became too strong to ignore.
King Charles reportedly learned of the relocation plans weeks ago and welcomed the decision. Prince Harry has made no secret of his desire to bridge the gap with his family, even if a reconciliation with Prince William remains frozen.
What Comes Next for the Sussexes
They aren't returning as working royals. They plan to live a quieter life outside London, keeping their California property and a vacation home in Portugal as backup. They step back onto British soil without official police protection details, reviving old security arguments that prompted their initial exit.
Trump's parting shot is a reminder that the Sussexes carry heavy baggage wherever they unpack. Whether their return heals old wounds in the UK or simply starts a fresh round of tabloid drama remains to be seen. For now, the political heavyweight in Washington is just glad they cleared out of his backyard.
