US President Donald Trump
Trump says he feels 'happy' about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leaving the US Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons/Wikimedia Commons

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he was 'happy' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had left the United States and returned to the UK.

Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump said he had not been a 'fan' of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. He also said that, if he were part of the royal family, he would not have accepted their return.

Trump expressed his happiness for the Sussexes, who have lived in California since relocating to the United States in 2020. 'I was not a fan,' he said about them.

Trump Criticises Sussexes

Trump's criticism focused on the couple's relationship with the British royal family. He said he believed Harry and Meghan had treated the monarchy without respect.

'I thought they treated the royal family with ​great disrespect. I didn't like it,' the president said.

The president also singled out Meghan, saying he believed she had been 'terribly disrespectful' to the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III. 'I didn't like the way she acted. I thought she was terribly disrespectful,' Trump added.

He went further, saying that had he been in the royal family's position, he would have chosen not to take them back. 'Maybe I'm different; I wouldn't have taken them back. If I were in the royal family, I would not have taken them back,' the US president said. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived in Britain in late August.

Harry and Meghan Return to Britain After 6 Years

Harry and Meghan left Britain in 2020 after stepping away from their roles as senior working royals and subsequently established their home in California. The couple have since lived in California and continued their private and commercial activities outside official royal duties.

The couple, along with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Harry and Meghan reportedly plan to remain in the UK for an extended period. The children therefore are expected to begin school in Britain in September, although Harry and Meghan are not returning as working members of the royal family.

Sussexes Return as Non-Working Royals

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle returned to Britain six years after moving to California, the United States, and stepping back from official royal duties.

The couple have since remained non-working members of the royal family. Their return comes after several public discussions about their experiences as senior royals, including comments from Meghan and Harry in interviews and from Harry in his memoir.

The Sussexes have not publicly given a detailed explanation for this decision to spend more time in Britain. Their return has nevertheless prompted speculation about their future there. They are expected to remain non-working members of the royal family and will not resume official royal duties.

Harry and Meghan have previously spoken publicly about their time as working royals, including in television interviews and in Harry's memoir.

Trump has previously criticised Meghan and has also commented on Harry's security arrangements since the couple moved to the United States. He was also involved in the debate over Harry's security arrangements in the US.