opinionNatalie Richards: Why Meghan and Harry should return to the UK in light of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrestNatalie RichardsThe NightlyFri, 20 February 2026 3:10PMCommentsCommentsEmail Natalie Richards
Prince Harry and Meghan, it’s time to book your flights to the UK.
If ever there were a time for the Duke of Sussex and his family to quietly return to the royal fold, the weeks following arrest of his uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is the time.
Once upon a time, Harry and Meghan were among the UK’s most hated members of the royal family, having sensationally “stepped down” as senior royals and decamping to the US.
Following the couple’s scathing attacks on the monarchy during Queen Elizabeth II’s final years through Harry’s book “Spare” and during their bombshell interview Oprah Winfrey, there appeared to be no way back into royal life for the pair.
But for months, there have been strong rumours the couple are looking to repair their image with the British people they were so desperate to leave.
Reportedly dubbed “Project Thaw” the alleged plan is to “melt” the hostility towards the couple to allow their return to the UK.
And that time may be now.
While many royalists have long memories, few can compare the problems they have with Meghan and Harry with the issues surrounding Andrew.
On one hand you have the first arrest of a British royal in more than 350 years as police investigate allegations he shared sensitive information with a convicted paedophile.
On the other hand you have a couple who were despised for whingeing about the perils of their privileged royal lifestyles and hypocritical requests for “privacy”.
The palace balcony has never had so much free space.
After the deaths of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the cancer battles of King Charles and Princess Kate, the pool of full-time working royals is shallow.
Princess Kate alone has, understandably, undertaken just 68 royal engagements in 2025 — about half of those she undertook before her diagnosis in 2023.
To have the sparkle of two, once likeable, young royals back on the beat would no doubt be a welcome addition to the royal roster of public engagements.
While some may never forgive Harry and Meghan for the events of the past seven years, in light of the events of the past week, Meghan and Harry’s whingeings no longer seem like such a crime.
And it would be even harder to harbour such resentment for the Sussexes given a return to the UK would afford their children Archie and Lilibet the chance to finally get to know their royal relatives.
So, it might be now or never for the Sussex family to book their flights back to the mother country.
Just make sure this time, it’s not a private jet.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails
Read more on The West Australian
