Trump Reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Move Back to the U.K. — “I Wouldn’t Have Taken Them Back”

Trump Reacts to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Move Back to the U.K. — “I Wouldn’t Have Taken Them Back”

President Donald Trump has made his feelings about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle clear once again, saying he is “happy” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have moved back to the United Kingdom — while making it equally clear that he has never been a fan of the couple.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Sept. 2, Trump was asked about Harry and Meghan’s return to the U.K. after the couple relocated their family from California for an extended stay in Harry’s home country.

“I was not a fan,” Trump said.

He then went further, criticizing the couple’s treatment of the British royal family and saying he believed they had shown “great disrespect” toward the late Queen Elizabeth and King Charles.

Trump even offered his own view of how the royal family should have handled the situation.

“I wouldn’t have taken them back,” he said. “Frankly, if I were the royal family, I would not have taken them back.”

Why Is Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s U.K. Move Significant?

Harry and Meghan’s return to Britain does not represent a formal return to royal duties.

The couple stepped away from their roles as working members of the royal family years ago and established their primary home in California. Their latest move instead involves making a private, non-royal residence in the U.K. their home base for an extended period.

Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are also expected to begin school in Britain this month.

The family is expected to maintain its California home as well as a vacation property in Portugal.

King Charles was reportedly informed of the couple’s plans before their arrival and is said to welcome the opportunity to spend more time with his son and grandchildren privately.

But the move does not change Harry and Meghan’s status within the royal family.

They remain non-working members, consistent with the arrangement previously reached with the late Queen Elizabeth.

Trump Says He Has a Good Relationship With King Charles

While Trump sharply criticized Harry and Meghan, he made a clear distinction between the couple and the senior members of the royal family.

Trump said he had a “very good relationship” with Queen Elizabeth and described his relationship with King Charles in similarly warm terms.

“I’ve known him for a long time,” Trump said of the monarch, calling Charles a “great, great guy.”

Trump's comments reflect a relationship with the British monarchy that he has discussed publicly on several occasions.

In April, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted King Charles during a state dinner at the White House, underscoring the close diplomatic relationship between Washington and London.

That relationship provides an important backdrop to Trump's latest criticism of Harry and Meghan.

Trump Has Criticized Meghan Markle Before

Trump's comments on Sept. 2 are not the first time he has publicly expressed his dislike of Meghan.

During his 2016 presidential campaign, Meghan, then known primarily as an actress on Suits, described Trump in strongly negative terms, calling him “misogynistic” and “divisive.”

Several years later, Trump responded to those comments after becoming president.

He also made headlines in 2019 when he referred to Meghan as “nasty,” although he later disputed the characterization and denied that he had intended the remark in the way it was reported.

The long-running tension between Trump and Meghan therefore predates the couple's decision to leave royal life and move to California.

Trump Has Also Taken Aim at Prince Harry

Trump's criticism has not been limited to Meghan.

Earlier this year, he responded after Prince Harry made a surprise visit to Ukraine and called for stronger American leadership in support of the country.

Speaking at the Kyiv Security Forum in April, Harry argued that the United States had a unique role in the security situation because of its historical involvement in assurances surrounding Ukraine's sovereignty and borders.

Harry did not directly name Trump in the speech.

But when reporters later asked Trump about the prince's remarks, the president responded with a pointed comment.

“Prince Harry? How’s he doing? How’s his wife? Please give her my regards,” Trump said.

He then questioned Harry's authority to speak on behalf of Britain.

“Prince Harry is not speaking for the U.K.,” Trump said, adding that he believed he was speaking for Britain more than Harry was.

Trump also said he appreciated Harry's advice.

Trump Previously Discussed the Royal Family With a Biographer

Trump's interest in the British royal family has also come up in private conversations.

During King Charles and Queen Camilla's U.S. state visit in April, royal biographer Robert Hardman reportedly met privately with Trump.

According to Hardman's account, Trump was eager to discuss the royal family, including the strained relationship between Prince Harry and his older brother, Prince William.

When Hardman said he considered it highly unlikely that Harry would return to the royal fold, Trump reportedly responded that there had simply been “too many things.”

Trump then appeared to place much of the responsibility on Meghan, referring to “that wife of his” and criticizing what he believed she had done to Harry.

He also referenced the reported tensions between Meghan and other members of the royal family.

Those remarks reinforce the position Trump expressed publicly this week: he does not appear to view Harry and Meghan's relationship with the royal family favorably.

Does Harry and Meghan’s Move Mean They Are Returning to Royal Duties?

No.

The couple's relocation to the U.K. does not mean they are returning as working royals.

Harry and Meghan continue to live outside the working structure of the monarchy. Their move is instead described as a private family decision that allows them to spend more time in Britain while maintaining their established life in the United States and elsewhere.

That distinction is important because speculation about a royal reconciliation has followed the couple for years.

For now, the available information points toward a private return rather than an institutional one.

What Did Trump Actually Object To?

Trump's latest remarks focus primarily on what he believes Harry and Meghan's treatment of the royal family represented.

He specifically criticized what he described as disrespect toward Queen Elizabeth and King Charles.

His comments are therefore less about the couple's physical return to Britain and more about his long-standing view of their relationship with the monarchy.

At the same time, Trump said he was “happy” that they had moved back.

That apparent contradiction is actually central to his position: Trump welcomed their return to Britain while making clear that he would not personally have handled their relationship with the royal family in the same way.

What Happens Next for Harry, Meghan and the Royal Family?

The immediate focus will likely be on how the Sussexes settle into their extended stay in Britain and whether their presence leads to more private contact with King Charles and the wider royal family.

The move could provide more opportunities for Harry to spend time with his father and for the children to develop a closer connection with their British family.

But there is no indication that the move changes Harry and Meghan's formal royal status.

For Trump, meanwhile, the issue appears far more straightforward.

He has repeatedly expressed admiration for Queen Elizabeth and respect for King Charles while remaining sharply critical of Harry and Meghan.

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His latest comments therefore add another chapter to a relationship that has been marked by public disagreements, royal family tensions and political controversy.

And with Harry and Meghan now back on British soil, Trump's blunt assessment has once again put their complicated relationship with the royal family squarely in the spotlight.