Meghan Markle's return to British soil has sparked an intense debate about the reasons bringing her back to a place she once despised. The Duchess of Sussex, who stepped down from her senior royal position in 2020 with Prince Harry, faced a brutal time due to invasive media coverage, previously speaking about being driven to suicidal thoughts. Hence, it seems odd to many that Meghan would choose to return to a place with such dark memories.
However, a friend of Meghan's believes circumstances are different this time. 'She has been vocal about how she felt before, but that doesn't mean things are going to be exactly the same again,' an ally told People Magazine. 'It doesn't mean it can't be different and can't change.' Harry and Meghan will live in a private, non-royal home base with Archie and Lilibet, believed to be outside London, while retaining their mansion in Montecito.
Another source added that this time Meghan's team is better prepared and 'stronger now than it ever was to protect her - to protect them.' Meanwhile, concerns linger among many of Meghan's friends over the level of media attention she might attract in the UK. A week ago, the Sussex family got a glimpse of what life would be like in the UK during a private visit, where the children visited their late grandmother Princess Diana's final resting place and met extended family.
Prince Harry wants his children to 'understand the world he grew up in and where their family comes from.' While worries remain about how Meghan will navigate the press, sources insist she is returning not as a working royal but as a private citizen, operating independently of the royal institution - a freedom that grants her greater control over her life.