It’s been 18 months since she waved goodbye to the UK – and she’s made it pretty clear that she’s not in any rush to return. So, there were a few surprised faces over at Buckingham Palace last week, after reports that Meghan Markle’s set to accompany Prince Harry on a flying visit back to Blighty.
According to insiders, Harry and Meghan have requested a meeting with the Queen, as they hope to build bridges following a year of tension. They also want to introduce Her Majesty to her namesake – three-month-old baby daughter, Lilibet – and reacquaint her with their two-year-old son Archie.
The Sussexes’ return comes just months after Meghan and Harry accused “The Firm” of “perpetuating falsehoods” about them during that interview with Oprah Winfrey, and also claimed they’d been subjected to racism by the family. And insiders tell us that Meghan won’t be bowing down to anyone. Instead, she’s issued a list of demands should the big visit take place.
“Meghan’s return all depends on her receiving certain assurances,” says an insider close to the couple, who also claimed that they’d suffered “neglect” while working as senior royals.
CHECK OUT Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's relationship timeline
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship timeline
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met in London in July 2016.
2 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
They were introduced by mutual friend Markus Anderson, who is the director of Soho House.
3 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In October 2016, the Express became the first newspaper to publish news that Prince Harry had a new girlfriend.
4 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
On November 8th 2016, Kensington Palace released an unprecedented statement which referring to Markle as Harry's girlfriend for the first time.
5 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In the statement, Prince Harry condemned the 'wave of abuse and harrassment' faced by Markle, saying that he was 'worried about Ms. Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her.'
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'It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm,' the statement continued.
7 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple were papped together for the first time in December 2016, shopping for a Christmas tree in London at the Pines and Needles store.
8 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Later that week, they were seen on London's West End, catching a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
9 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In February, Prince Harry wore a his 'n' hers bracelet on the cover of Town & Country magazine, just weeks after Markle was pictured wearing the same one on Instagram.
10 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In March 2017, Meghan joined Prince Harry in the Caribbean for the wedding of his friend's Tom 'Skippy' Inskip and Lara Hughes-Young.
11 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
It was the first time that Markle accompanied Harry to a wedding, marking another milestone occasion for the couple.
12 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The first public event attended by the couple was the polo at Coworth Park in May 2017.
13 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Later in May, Markle attended the party portion of Pippa Middleton's wedding to James Middelton.
14 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry was seen driving her to the event after the church ceremony.
15 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple were photographed together the following day at the wheelchair tennis.
16 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple 'broke with royal protocol' by holding hands and appearing affectionate while at the Invictus Games.
17 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Meghan referred to Harry as her boyfriend numerous times, saying: 'We're a couple. We're in love. I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people understand is that this is our time.'
18 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In early November 2017, it was reported that Meghan Markle was leaving Suits after seven series.
19 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Much was made of Markle's choice of outfit: ripped jeans and a white blouse called 'The Husband'.
20 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Although Prince Harry was sat next to First Lady Melania Trump at the event, rather than his girlfriend, she was only seated a few rows behind him.
21 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple made their first official public appearance in September, when Markle attended the opening of Prince Harry's Invictus Games.
22 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In mid-November 2017, bookies suspending betting on an impending royal engagement, as speculation grew that an announcement was about to be made.
23 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
On November 27th 2017, Prince Charles announced the engagement of his younger son Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after 15 months of dating.
24 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple later appeared at a photocall, with Markle wearing a white dress coat by Canadian brand Line The Label. The website has subsequently crashed.
25 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The engagement ring, by Cleave and Company, was reportedly designed by Prince Harry himself, using two stones that belonged to Princess Diana.
26 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
When asked by waiting photographers if the proposal was romantic, Harry joked 'of course!'
27 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple indulged in some PDA at the closing ceremony.
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Meghan wore a maroon midi dress with a pleated chiffon skirt by one of her favourite Canadian brands Aritzia.
29 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
She teamed it with a matching burgundy biker jacket by Mackage.
30 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry reportedly spent time with Meghan's mother Doria while at the Games too.
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Prince Harry was photographed kissing Meghan.
32 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In late September 2017, it was reported that Meghan had met the Queen, prompting speculation that the relationship was getting serious.
“Ideally, she’d like to come back in late September or October, especially if the plans for a public tribute to Princess Diana go ahead. But she has conditions: she wants guards by her and her family’s side 24/7, five-star lodgings, and an assurance that she’ll have full control over any press briefings, as well as her timetable while she’s here. She also wants Harry by her side at all times. She’s doing this for Harry and the kids as she realises it’s important, but after everything she went through in the UK, there’s a great deal of reticence.”
Eyebrows were raised last week at reports the Sussexes have requested a private meeting with the Queen. Indeed, one insider said, “People are shocked by the sheer nerve of it” – especially as it comes following Harry’s recent announcement that he’s writing a memoir.
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This is the text Meghan Markle sent to a friend after meeting Prince Harry
But the couple have always insisted they have no ill will towards Harry’s grandmother and, according to our source, they’re keen to extend an olive branch to her personally – so long as Meghan has every guarantee that, this time, it’s on her terms.
“Meghan and Harry are very aware that they still have a lot of critics in the UK,” we’re told. “Meghan, in particular, knows that her every move will be scrutinised, from their method of travel to what she wears. So, she says she’s taking the necessary steps to protect herself. There’s no way she’d let herself feel as vulnerable as she did the last time she was in the UK.”
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