Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have spent very little time in the UK – with another visit soon appearing unlikely.
Prince Harry and Meghan with their two children in 2021
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are likely facing a “difficult” UK dilemma over their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Archie was born in the UK but has spent very little time there, and Lilibet – who was born in the US – is believed to have visited her royal side of the family only once, in 2022.
Royal expert Phil Dampier told The Sun that he believes Harry’s visa row could led him to want to come back to the UK – but Meghan will likely be against this idea.
He told the publication that the couple will likely be facing a dilemma involving Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, as they aren’t able to see their relatives in the UK.
Mr Dampier claimed: “I don’t think Meghan, if she had her way, would set foot again in this country. She knows she’s fairly unpopular. I think she sort of burnt too many bridges.
“What makes it difficult, of course, is the children. It means that Archie and Lilibet are growing up in America, not seeing, not seeing the king and not seeing their cousins.”
When Meghan and Harry moved to the US in 2020, Archie was less than a year-old.
Lilibet, who was born in June 2021, joined the family once the Sussexes were already settled in America. The young royal travelled to the UK with her parents and Archie in 2022 to mark the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
She even celebrated her first birthday at the couple’s former UK base, Frogmore Cottage, on June 4, 2022.
Prince Archie was less than a year-old when they moved to the US
Harry has previously shared his concerns over his family’s safety in the UK – stating that this is one reason why his wife hasn’t paid a visit to his home country since the end of 2022.
Speaking of their reasoning for not bringing their children back to his homeland, a friend of the Duke’s previously claimed to PEOPLE: “Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats.
“He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm. As a dad and husband, Harry is determined to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself.”