Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Expected To Eventually Return To UK, Here's Why

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are expected to return to the U.K. eventually because that was their original plan before they stepped down from their royal duties.

Reports surfaced last week that the Duke of Sussex is planning to fly back to England without Markle to meet with Queen Elizabeth II. However, another report from Entertainment Tonight said that Prince Harry and his wife are "not returning anytime soon."

An unnamed source close to the Sussexes, meanwhile, told Vogue and Harper's Bazaar that Prince Harry and Markle will be visiting the U.K. together.

"There have been a lot of rumors circulating about this. Had it not been for COVID and travel restrictions, they would have already been back in the U.K. For events like Beatrice’s wedding and Trooping of the Colour, for example," the insider said.

Vogue pointed out that returning to the U.K. has been part of Prince Harry and Markle's plans from the start.

"We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America," the Sussexes said in a statement posted on their Instagram page on Jan. 8. "This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter."

The Sussexes may also be able to return during the holidays if they want to as the U.S. and the U.K. are working to open travel with shortened traveler quarantine periods in the coming months, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

Vogue noted that Markle's case against The Mail on Sunday is set to begin on Jan. 11, 2021. The former actress and Prince Harry would need to leave earlier as they would have to undergo a two-week quarantine based on the current guidelines.

Last month, one unnamed source told Us Weekly that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to spend Christmas with the royal family and that Markle wants their son to see his great-grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

However, another insider told ET Prince Harry has no plans to fly to the U.K. anytime soon, though he might change his mind in the coming weeks.

"Things can obviously change, if there's a concern about family health, but they are not hopping over the pond anytime imminently," the source said.

Prince Harry, however, may have already confirmed their U.K. plans during a Zoom call with staff and volunteers from the Rugby Football League back in August.

"We’ve got a whole rugby league World Cup coming next year," he said. "I definitely plan on coming back. I would have been back already had it not been for COVID."

Prince Harry has not been back to the U.K. since making his last official appearance at the Commonwealth Day service on March 9.