Last week came the unofficial announcement that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are considering setting up a second home in the United States.
WATCH: Prince Harry forces cameraman to back off
This move would potentially see Meghan dumping Prince Harry in the UK while she establishes a new US home base. This could also possibly mean the royal couple would have to spend significant amounts of time apart on different continents, before eventually reuniting back in the UK.
Speaking to New Idea, Phil Dampier, author of Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan In Their Own Words, believes Harry may feel cornered into allowing his wife and their son, Archie, to relocate to the US – even just for temporary stints.
“Harry has always said ‘what Meghan wants Meghan gets’ and so if she wants to spend more time in the US, especially with her mother, I’m sure he will go along with it,” Phil explains, adding there’s no doubt such a move would put a strain on the couple’s relationship.
“If Meghan decides she wants to spend more time back home then it would make things more difficult for Harry,” Phil continues. “He would be torn between his wife and his sense of
duty to the Queen and the royal family.”
It comes as speculation grows that the Duchess of a Sussex is eager to live in LA and be closer to her supportive mum Doria Ragland – while Harry travels and fulfills his royal roles.
“The Queen would be very concerned if Harry seriously thought about jacking in royal duties altogether and I hope he doesn’t,” Phil adds.
“And obviously he wants to be with his wife for the sake of their son, Archie. It would be devastating if Harry couldn’t see his son for weeks on end. So I hope they both knuckle down to life in the UK and make a go of it.”
Meghan and Harry are already planning to visit the States with their son this month for some down time after a busy couple of months.
“The Sussexes are planning to spend six weeks together mainly in the States before Christmas, and this will be an opportunity for them to reflect on how they see their lives panning out in the next couple of years,” Phil tells.
Despite the couple coming under increased public scrutiny lately, Phil stresses that the pair are still extremely popular.
“Polls have shown there is still an immense amount of affection for this couple, despite recent negative publicity, and so they could turn things around quite quickly if they just stop their war on the press and accept [that] sometimes they are going to be criticised. I’m afraid it goes with the job.”
Meanwhile, British media publications like Grazia UK are reporting that “It’s not so much a case of ‘if’, but ‘when’ they relocate”.
“It’s an open secret. Meghan is homesick,” reports Grazia UK. “Her mother, Doria, and most of her friends live in America”.
A royal source also told The Sun, “There’s an acceptance that things haven’t worked out with the Sussexes full-time in Windsor so they could have a second base in America.”
Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl confirms the young family are looking for a base in California and “want to work out how they can divide their time”.
She confirms this will likely mean Meghan and Harry have to spend periods of time apart.
“They also really want Archie to experience an American upbringing as much as a British one. After all, he is half American. But Harry will not renege on his charity work in the UK, so they will be figuring out how to make this work.”
This latest surprising move comes just a week after the couple’s controversial comments aired during a documentary about their recent African tour.
Last week, Meghan’s wedding makeup artist, Daniel Martin, explained during an appearance on CBS This Morning that he and the royals’ other friends had been aware of the pressure they’d been under amid constant scrutiny and criticism. “It’s been tough,” he explained. “Watching this documentary, it’s been almost a relief seeing her at a point where she can be honest about what’s been happening.”
He added: “All of us who have known, we just didn’t know what to do or how to help.”
There’s been no official comment on Meghan and Harry’s plans for a US move but Phil Dampier tells New Idea how the possible relocation would impact Harry’s closest relatives.
“I think William and Kate would be devastated,” he reveals. “Kate would want her children to see Archie, their cousin, and it would be a dreadful shame if they didn’t grow up together.”
DORIA TELLS ALL
New Idea has learnt there is speculation Doria Ragland could take part in an explosive tell-all interview in a bid to publicly support her daughter.
It’s thought the yoga teacher would likely team up with Oprah Winfrey’s production company, with TV insiders believing it would be the perfect outlet for her to talk about Meghan and her life before and after Harry. She could even open up about her daughter’s estrangement from dad Thomas Markle as well as discussing what’s gone on behind palace doors since Meghan married Harry.
An insider tells New Idea Doria has been spotted at the base of Meghan’s PR company Sunshine Sachs on numerous occasions in the past few weeks. She has apparently met the firm’s founder, Ken Sunshine, who flew in from New York with two partners to help give Doria media training.
With filming thought to be slated to begin this month, it’s possible Meghan and Harry will be in LA to celebrate Thanksgiving during production, although it’s not known whether they’ll take part in the film.
For more, see this week’s New Idea – out now!
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