Is Meghan setting up a return to the UK after her surprise engagement in London? - analysis by Svar Nanan-Sen

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle made a surprise virtual appearance in London on Thursday.

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Svar Nanan-Sen

By Svar Nanan-Sen


Published: 24/02/2024

- 08:30

Updated: 26/02/2024

- 08:54

The Duchess of Sussex has not visited the UK since September 2022

Meghan Markle made a surprise virtual appearance in London on Thursday.

The Duchess of Sussex undertook an engagement in England's capital city via a video link as she opened a new wing of an animal charity named in honour of her late friend, Oli Juste.


It comes as Prince Harry has publicly vowed to return to the UK "as much as he can" following King Charles's cancer diagnosis.

The Duke of Sussex outlined during a TV interview with Good Morning America that he had multiple trips to the UK planned for this year.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

The Duke of Sussex outlined during a TV interview with Good Morning America that he had multiple trips to the UK planned for this year.

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Harry said: "I have got many trips planned that will take me through the UK or back to the UK so I will see my family as much as I can."

The King's youngest son also travelled to London earlier this month for a face-to-face meeting with his father after he was informed that the monarch had been diagnosed with cancer.

The Duke of Sussex made several trips to the UK on his own throughout 2023.

The most high-profile of Harry's visits came in May 2023 when he attended King Charles's Coronation.

Prince Harry

The Duke of Sussex made several trips to the UK on his own throughout 2023.

PA

Meghan Markle was invited to the event but chose not to attend amid reports the Duchess of Sussex feared being booed by crowds in the UK.

The duchess turned down multiple opportunities to return to the UK last year.

In what appeared to be a blatant act of avoidance, Meghan chose not to accompany Prince Harry to the WellChild awards ceremony in London last September, despite joining him in Europe just days later for the 2023 Invictus Games in Germany.

Meghan also remained in the US instead of supporting Prince Harry in court as he testified against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) in a civil case in London last year.

Prince Harry

Meghan also remained in the US instead of supporting Prince Harry in court as he testified against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) in a civil case in London last year.

PA

Meghan Markle

The surprise virtual appearance is unlikely to be a catalyst for change, with the Duchess of Sussex's absence more likely to reach the two-year milestone than come to an end.

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The Duchess of Sussex's last appearance in the UK came in September 2022 when she attended Queen Elizabeth II's funeral.

Despite popping up in London via a video link, Meghan seems very reluctant to come back to the UK, even just for a fleeting visit similar to the one undertaken by Harry earlier this month.

The surprise virtual appearance is unlikely to be a catalyst for change, with the Duchess of Sussex's absence more likely to reach the two-year milestone than come to an end.

However, with two senior royals facing health concerns, Meghan joining Harry on an unplanned trip back to the country of his birth in the next six months cannot be ruled out.

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