Meghan Markle has received continual criticism from Morgan over the years. (Image: Jonathan Brady-Pool/Getty Images)
Meghan Markle’s first prolonged return to the UK in nearly four years saw the duchess steer clear of any form of public attention for both herself and her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
This is despite the fact that she and Prince Harry brought the youngsters for a long-awaited visit with their grandfather King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House. They also paid their respects at Princess Diana’s grave and enjoyed time on a family break in Scotland.
Meghan did post a photograph of Harry and the children carrying flowers to Diana’s final resting place with her 4.7million followers on Instagram. Sources also suggested that at least part of the moving tribute was captured for a Netflix documentary ahead of next year’s 30th anniversary.
But while the July 2026 visit – her first alongside Harry since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022 – was notably understated, that won’t always be possible. The Invictus Games in Birmingham next year will be a prominent public occasion, while the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death on 31st August 2027 will be enormously in the global spotlight.
“There’s no getting away from the fact that Meghan sharply divides opinion in this country,” former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told New! magazine.
“I’m sure she’s aware that many people in the UK probably blame her for Harry’s estrangement from his family, so she’ll know that any public appearances at the Invictus Games or to commemorate Diana’s death will risk drawing criticism from some quarters.
“She’s not daft and she knows what comes with social media – and that is a lot of scrutiny and a lot of trolling. So we have to assume she’s tough enough to take that kind of criticism, and that it’s a price she’d be willing to pay if she does decide to come to the UK.”
The anniversary also presents the possibility of Meghan, 45, encountering the Prince and Princess of Wales, with whom she shares a troubled personal relationship. Prince William, 44, is understood to still harbour “absolute contempt” for his younger brother following his disclosure of deeply personal matters in his autobiography, Spare.
“I’m sure Harry would want Meghan by his side if he takes part in any commemoration of his mother’s death – we know that he has taken her at least twice to visit Diana’s grave,” said Jennie. “But it would be a whole lot more difficult if William and Catherine were at the same event.
Meghan Markle rests her head on her husband’s shoulder (Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage/via Getty)
“I think it’s unlikely at this stage that William and Harry – with or without their wives – will agree to attend any events together.”
Nevertheless, Jennie believes there’s “every prospect” of Meghan supporting Harry, 41, in public when his sporting event for injured servicemen and women is held in the UK next summer. Since their marriage in 2018, Meghan has accompanied the prince at every Invictus Games.
According to psychotherapist Susie Masterson, the personal dilemma for the Sussexes presented by the two significant events approaching in 2027 should not be underestimated.
The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
“You have to have a really strong sense of self to be in a situation you don’t want to be in,” she told New!
“So Meghan has to find some way of using her boundaries as the equivalent of a suit of armour, to protect herself.
“Lots of people go through big events such as these, and are confronted with situations like this, but 2027 takes things to the next level for Meghan and Harry in terms of what they’ve potentially got to go through.”