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While Prince William and Princess Kate’s attention is focused on Prince George’s approaching move to Eton, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s return to the U.K. could introduce a new source of family tension, according to royal experts.
George, 13, is expected to begin at Eton College this month, marking a major milestone for the Prince and Princess of Wales as their eldest child prepares to leave home for boarding school.
The occasion comes as Harry and Meghan have returned to the U.K. with their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. However, according to royal experts, the couple is expected to avoid making public comments or releasing photos that could overshadow George’s first day.
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Prince William, Princess Kate brace for “unpredictability” with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s return as Prince George starts Eton, an expert says. (Getty Images)
Still, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield told Fox News Digital that the Sussexes’ presence could create an unpredictable wave of emotions for the Wales family during an already trying time.
“I have tremendous sympathy for the Prince and Princess of Wales,” Schofield said. “Prince George is expected to start at Eton on September 8, which means this was their last Scottish summer holiday together before their teenage son leaves home for his first term at boarding school.”
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“That is a huge emotional milestone for any family, and instead of being able to quietly enjoy that time together, Harry and Meghan have brought the circus back to town,” she added.
Schofield said William and Kate may be forced to navigate the media attention surrounding Harry and Meghan while trying to maintain privacy for their children.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have vowed to “lay low” amid their U.K. return and Prince George’s Eton start, according to a royal expert. (Getty Images)
“What I think will be particularly difficult for William and Catherine is the unpredictability,” Schofield said. “Harry and Meghan have a history of making their own plans, generating enormous media attention and operating outside the traditional royal structure.”
“Now William and Catherine are sending their eldest child away from home for the first time while simultaneously having to navigate the Sussexes’ return and all of the uncertainty surrounding it,” she added.
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Schofield said George should be allowed to begin his new chapter without being pulled into the ongoing media frenzy surrounding his family.
“George deserves to begin this new chapter of his life without being dragged into another cycle of speculation about his uncle and aunt,” Schofield said.
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“William and Catherine have worked incredibly hard to give their children stability and privacy, and I imagine they would have preferred this important family moment to happen without the Sussex circus playing out in the background,” she added.
Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator, said the Sussexes’ return could intensify the pressure on the royal family and the Palace.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and their two children returned to the U.K. last week. (Matt Dunham – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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“The royal family is under pressure,” Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital. “The Palace is not at its best reacting to the unexpected, and the Sussexes know that, hence this strange game they seem to be playing.”
Fitzwilliams also questioned whether Harry and Meghan’s return signals a genuine commitment to Britain or reflects their efforts to maintain an international profile.
“They reportedly see themselves as ‘international citizens,'” he said. “They claim that their balance of business activities and trips abroad over the last six years is a success.”
The couple’s arrival in Britain has also drawn attention to their public image and ongoing security concerns.
The Sussexes moved to California in 2020. (Getty Images)
“They are making a statement by arriving by private jet,” Fitzwilliams said. “Harry is apparently still wanting an apology. He may or may not get the security he craves, or part of it.”
“The test ought to be if there is a threat and not public opinion polls,” he added.
Fitzwilliams said public opinion remains a challenge for the Sussexes, pointing to YouGov popularity ratings.
“The people would love them to depart, though the circus they create is weird and anthropologically fascinating,” he said.
The reported agreement for Harry and Meghan to “lay low” during George’s Eton debut was previously described by royal broadcaster Neil Sean as an effort to prevent the Sussexes from overshadowing the future king’s historic first day.
“The Sussexes have assured the king that they will not hijack or derail major royal events, notably the first day of school term for Prince George at Eton,” Sean previously told Fox News Digital. “By that, no pictures or comment from either one on that day in September.”
At the time, a representative for Archewell told Fox News Digital: “This is not something we would comment on.”
Royal commentator Amanda Matta previously said George’s first day at Eton carries significance beyond a typical school milestone.
Prince George will attend Eton this month. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
“Prince George’s start at Eton isn’t just a personal milestone; it’s the beginning of his public-facing path as heir to the throne,” Matta said. “The Palace is incredibly protective of that narrative, and any competing headline — especially one involving Harry and Meghan — threatens to distract from the ‘steady, future-focused’ brand the Prince and Princess of Wales have worked so hard to build.”
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Matta added that it would “certainly be a shame for his first days at Eton to see him embroiled in a ‘feud’ narrative with his uncle and aunt.”
Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 and later moved to California. They are expected to retain ties to California while re-establishing themselves in Britain.
Schofield described the couple’s reported U.K. plans as “a trial run rather than a definitive homecoming.”
“The fact that this is apparently not intended to be a permanent move tells us that Harry and Meghan are still hedging their bets,” she said. “They are returning to Britain, but they do not appear ready to fully commit to Britain.”
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Schofield said the Sussexes’ return could allow them to remain connected to the royal family while preserving the independence they established in the United States.
Harry and Meghan will reportedly maintain their home in California. (Ben Stansall – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
“I suspect they want the best of both worlds — access to Britain, proximity to the monarchy and the credibility that comes with Harry’s royal identity, while maintaining the freedom and commercial opportunities they associate with life outside the U.K.,” Schofield said.
British broadcaster Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that Harry and Meghan are “keeping their options open.”
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“Recent briefings have highlighted that Meghan will travel backwards and forwards,” Chard said. “Her heart is in the U.S., not the U.K.”
As the Sussexes settle back into Britain, William and Kate could face the challenge of keeping attention on George’s future while managing the renewed scrutiny surrounding Harry and Meghan.
“The Sussexes generate headlines simply by existing in public space,” Matta previously said. “That’s been true since 2018 and hasn’t changed with their location or job titles.”
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Representatives for Archewell, Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
