'I Wouldn't Take Them Back': Trump Delivers Blunt Verdict on Prince Harry and Meghan's UK Return

Donald Trump has delivered a blunt verdict on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's return to the UK. He said he was 'happy' the couple had left the US and made clear that he would not have welcomed them back if he were a member of the Royal Family.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, 2 September, Trump was asked about the Sussexes' return to Britain after six years living in California. Harry and Meghan have returned with their children, Archie and Lilibet, and are expected to spend an extended period in the UK.

Trump's response was notably critical, despite his long-standing relationship with the British Royal Family and his previous praise for King Charles III and the late Queen Elizabeth II. During the Oval Office Q&A, a reporter asked Trump for his reaction to reports that Harry and Meghan had left the US and returned to Britain.

'I'm Happy About It. I Was Not a Fan,' Trump Replied.

He went on to discuss his relationships with the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III, saying he had known Charles for years, including when he was still Prince Charles. 'I had a very good relationship with the Queen. Really good. I got to know her very well,' Trump said.

He added that he had 'a really good relationship with King Charles' and described the monarch as a 'great, great guy'. Trump then criticised Harry and Meghan's treatment of the Royal Family, saying he believed the couple had shown 'great disrespect'.

He singled out Meghan, saying he did not like 'the way she acted' towards the late Queen and King Charles. Trump offered his strongest assessment when asked about whether he believed the couple should have been welcomed back.

'Maybe I'm different. I wouldn't have taken him back, frankly. If I were the royal family, I would not have taken him back,' Trump said.

Trump's History of Sussex Criticism

Trump's latest remarks add to his history of public criticism of the Sussexes. In April 2026, Trump responded to Harry's comments about the war in Ukraine by questioning the Duke's authority to speak on behalf of Britain.

'I think I am speaking for the UK more than Prince Harry,' Trump said during another Oval Office exchange, while adding that he appreciated Harry's advice. Trump has also previously weighed in on Harry's US immigration status.

In February 2025, he said he would not pursue deportation proceedings against the Duke amid a legal dispute over the release of his immigration records. 'I don't want to do that. I'll leave him alone. He's got enough problems with his wife. She's terrible,' Trump told the New York Post.

The remarks followed Trump's longstanding tensions with Meghan. The Duchess previously described Trump as 'divisive' and 'misogynistic', while Trump later referred to her as 'nasty'.

Security Questions Loom as Sussexes Settle Back in Britain

Prince William and Kate Middleton are 'watching' as Harry and Meghan return to the UK amid the ongoing family rift, according to royal observers.

Harry's long-running concerns over security have also resurfaced alongside the couple's return to Britain.

The Duke has previously said he did not feel able to bring his wife and children back to the UK without adequate security protection. His dispute over his official security arrangements has resulted in a lengthy legal battle, with questions about what protection the family will receive now they are spending more time in Britain.

The Sussexes' return has therefore renewed scrutiny of how their security arrangements will be handled, particularly as Archie and Lilibet are now attending school in the UK. The children were enrolled at a British school ahead of the family's return and are expected to begin the new school term in Britain.

Royal observers have suggested security concerns may have influenced the Sussexes' decision to spend more time in the UK, though the couple has not confirmed this.

For now, the Sussexes remain private individuals and non-working royals, but their extended stay in Britain keeps the question of their long-term relationship with the monarchy firmly in the spotlight.