When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the UK in 2020, it was clear they wanted to live a more private life away from the royal family.
However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have indicated that they will not return to the UK in the future, with Harry stating that they will remain in California for the foreseeable future.
In the ITV documentary Tabloids On Trial, Harry discussed his battle with the tabloid press, including his action against The Mirror Group Newspapers for phone hacking and coverage of his wife, Meghan.
In the documentary, Harry explained how the media frenzy has given him ‘genuine concerns’ meaning he ‘won’t bring his wife back to this country’.
He said: “All it takes is for one lone actor who reads this stuff to act on what they’ve read.
“And whether it’s a knife or acid, these are serious concerns for me. It’s one of the reasons I’m not bringing my wife back to this nation.
Harry has already spoken frankly about his wife’s and his children’s safety concerns.
Earlier this year, the Duke filed a court lawsuit in the High Court against the UK Home Office after they decided in 2020 that he should receive a different level of taxpayer-funded protection once he and his wife retired from performing royal duties. While Harry lost the case earlier this year, he has made it known that he plans to appeal and continue the legal battle.
In a previous hearing, Harry said in a written statement: “It was with great sadness for both of us that my wife and I felt forced to step back from this role and leave the country in 2020.” The United Kingdom is where I call home.
“The United Kingdom is vital to my children’s heritage, and I want them to feel at home there as much as where they currently live in the United States.
“That cannot happen if it is not practicable to keep them safe while on British territory. I cannot put my wife in danger like that, and given my life experiences, I am reluctant to put myself in danger as well.”
In the documentary, Harry also admitted that his campaign against tabloid publications had caused a ‘rift’ with his family.
In the feature-length documentary, host Becca Barry questioned him: “To what extent do you think your determination to fight the tabloids destroyed your relationship with your family?”
Harry responded, “It is undoubtedly a key component.
“It’s a difficult issue to answer since anything I say about my family draws a barrage of criticism from the media.
“I have made it quite obvious that this is something that must be done.
“It would be fantastic if we did it as a family; I believe that as public servants, we should be doing things for the greater good.
“I am doing this for my reasons.”
He continued, “For me, the mission remains. However, it has caused part of a rift.”
