Prince Harry and Meghan 'May Leave UK by Christmas' After King Charles' Royal Status Snub

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could leave the UK by Christmas, royal commentator Dickie Arbiter has predicted, just weeks after the couple returned to Britain with their two children following six years in California.

Speaking on TalkTV's Jeremy Kyle programme, Arbiter said he was 'not sure they are here long-term' and predicted the Sussexes could return to their Montecito home for Christmas, pointing to Meghan's mother being in California. The prediction has not been confirmed by Harry or Meghan.

Arbiter's comments came after Buckingham Palace reaffirmed that Harry and Meghan remain non-working members of the Royal Family. Guidance from Lord Chamberlain Richard Benyon stated that the couple are treated as private individuals with commercial and charitable interests, while their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles remain in place and their HRH styles stay in abeyance.

Palace Reaffirms Sussexes' Status

Lord Benyon's letter was circulated to government departments, military officials and Lord Lieutenants following Harry and Meghan's return to Britain. It confirmed that their status had not changed and that their charitable work is carried out in a private capacity, effectively placing them in the position of private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.

Harry and Meghan retain their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, while their His and Her Royal Highness (HRH) styles remain in abeyance and are not used.

Reports said the Sussexes' team received the contents shortly before the guidance was made public and was surprised by the timing. Sources close to the couple have also said they prefer to be described as public figures.

The clarification came as Harry and Meghan were establishing a renewed presence in Britain. Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have been enrolled at UK schools, while the family is reportedly living in the Cotswolds.

Uganda Withdraws From Invictus Games

Uganda's decision to withdraw from the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham came shortly after the Palace guidance was made public.

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces, said on X that the country did not want its participation to be interpreted as opposition to King Charles. Uganda had joined the Invictus community in July as its 26th nation and confirmed plans to compete in Birmingham.

Harry's office believes the withdrawal was directly linked to the Palace guidance, with a source close to the Duke describing the letter as an 'intended or unintended' cause of the decision.

However, ITV News reported that a Ugandan government spokesperson could not confirm whether the withdrawal was connected to the letter. The Invictus Games Foundation had also not publicly confirmed a formal withdrawal at the time of the report.

Questions Over Their UK Future

Harry and Meghan's return to Britain had prompted reports that they intended to spend more time in the country, making Arbiter's prediction of a Christmas departure significant. The couple are also retaining their Montecito home, which remains their base in California.

Arbiter has not provided evidence of a confirmed departure plan, however. His prediction is based on his view that the couple will return to Montecito for Christmas, where Meghan's mother is based.

There is no public confirmation from Harry or Meghan of plans to leave the UK at Christmas. The couple remain non-working members of the Royal Family, with their Sussex titles unchanged and their HRH styles still in abeyance.