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“Evolving priorities” and considerations about the type of education received by their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were reportedly behind Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s bold decision to uproot to the UK, a royal expert has claimed.
Omid Scobie – a royal reporter who was once known for his close relationship with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – has weighed into the couple’s latest move, revealing how they are “not the same people” who left the UK back in 2020.
Writing on his new substack Off Script, Scobie claimed he was told back in 2023 that California “was not intended” to be the duo’s “only base”.
“It was the right home for that chapter of their lives, but their children’s education and evolving priorities would shape what came next – including where they chose to live, and for how long,” he wrote.
“Leaving somewhere and returning to it later are not contradictory acts,” the expert added. “Sometimes distance is what reshapes the relationship.”
Now, insiders say that Harry and Meghan’s relationship indeed looks set to be reshaped by their forthcoming move across the Atlantic, news of which was made public on August 19.
A source tells Woman’s Day that while the couple are trying to project “positive vibes” ahead of the relocation, they are under more pressure than they are willing to let on.
“They know a lot of people believe this will break them so that’s a huge motivator for them to prove everyone wrong,” the insider shares.
“They both insist that their marriage can withstand anything because they have such a deep bond but that doesn’t mean they don’t put in work to keep it that way.”
Certainly, the couple’s relationship with the wider Royal Family is thought to remain strained, in the aftermath of their explosive Oprah interview and the allegations made in Harry’s memoir Spare.
While it’s understood that King Charles – who is receiving treatment for cancer – has welcomed the opportunity to see more of the Sussexes in a private capacity, he is said to have been clear that Harry and Meghan’s status as non-working royals will not change.
Harry’s brother Prince William, meanwhile, remains estranged from him – with the heir to the throne and his wife Kate, Princess of Wales, said to be playing the “long game”.
“They’re not going to fight them, brief against them or get dragged into another Sussex circus. Their attitude is simple: sit back, wait and see what actually happens,” a source previously told royal expert Rob Shuter, as per his Naughty But Nice substack.
One insider tells Woman’s Day that Meghan and Harry are “very aware” that they face a “challenging” road ahead as a couple.
“Is an enormous upheaval and will put them under a huge amount of pressure so they’re being proactive and talking about what can be done ahead of time to make sure the stress of this all doesn’t tear them apart,” the source says, adding that scheduled “date night” are on the cards so the couple has “time to reconnect”.
“They’re both going to be extremely busy, so it really does need to go in the calendar or it simply won’t happen,” they go on. “And, they want to avoid being apart for extended stretches.”
The source claims that, should Meghan need to travel for work, Harry and the kids will go with her.
“No matter how hectic things get, protecting their marriage and making sure it survives this test is key,” the source says.
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