Highlights
- Trump says he was "not a fan" of Harry and Meghan
- He accuses the couple of disrespecting the royal family
- Their UK return leaves questions over security and their future plans
Donald Trump may be pleased to see Prince Harry and Meghan Markle back in Britain, but that does not mean he has changed his mind about the couple.
Speaking to reporters after a press conference with travel executives, the US president made his position clear when asked about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's return to the UK. "I was not a fan," Trump said, before criticising the way Harry and Meghan stepped away from royal duties.
Trump went further, arguing that the couple had treated the royal family "with great disrespect". He added that, had the decision been his, he would not have welcomed them back.
The remarks come as Harry and Meghan begin a new chapter in Britain after spending six years in the US. Their return has inevitably revived questions about their relationship with the royal family, their long-term plans and the practicalities of living in the UK.
Trump makes his feelings about Harry and Meghan clear
Trump's criticism was not directed at the monarchy as a whole. In fact, his comments drew a sharp distinction between his affection for the royal institution and his view of Harry and Meghan's departure.
He praised King Charles as a "great, great guy" and spoke warmly of the late Queen Elizabeth II, describing her as a "great woman". Trump has previously spoken about his connection to the royal family, recalling how he watched the Queen's coronation on television as a child alongside his Scottish-born mother.
That personal admiration makes his latest comments about Harry and Meghan particularly pointed. While he has expressed warmth towards Charles and the late queen, he has remained openly critical of the Sussexes' decision to leave royal duties and establish a life in the US.
Harry and Meghan's return raises bigger questions
The couple's move back to Britain does not necessarily signal a return to royal life. Their future arrangements remain unclear, including where they intend to live permanently and what role, if any, they expect to have within the wider royal family.
King Charles is reportedly keen to spend private time with his son and grandchildren, but expectations of a formal return to royal duties remain limited. A compromise that would allow the couple to maintain a partial royal role, similar to the "half-in, half-out" arrangement previously discussed, is not expected to be revived.
The question of security is another unresolved issue. Whether British taxpayers will ultimately contribute towards the couple's protection remains a contentious part of their return, particularly given the security dispute that followed their decision to step back from royal duties.
For now, Harry and Meghan have yet to publicly set out exactly what their life in Britain will look like. But Trump's latest intervention has ensured that their return is once again being discussed not simply as a family reunion, but as another chapter in one of the monarchy's most complicated modern relationships.
