Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s recent trip had all the hallmarks of a royal tour – and could send a very strong message to Prince William and Kate Middleton that a ‘royal truce’ is on their wishlist
They may have stepped down as working royals six years ago, but the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s recent trip to Jordan bore all the hallmarks of a royal tour, with the couple visiting a hospital, a youth centre and an organisation dedicated to feeding people in times of crisis.
And one royal expert believes there may have been “an ulterior motive” to their two-day trip, telling the Mirror the visit was likely a none-too-subtle message to Harry’s crisis-hit family back in the UK.
During their time in the Middle Eastern country, Harry and Meghan highlighted the humanitarian efforts of the Jordanian authorities. Dressed in an all-black ensemble, Meghan witnessed food parcels being packaged and listened intently as she was told of a shortage of trucks to take essentials to Gaza.
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But royal author Ingrid Seward claims there was more to the Sussexes’ mission than met the eye. “Their trip to the Middle East appears to be part political, part message – and is it a secret message to William and Kate, or a blatant one?” she asks.
“Of course, they [the Sussexes] wouldn’t have known what was going to happen [with Andrew] when they planned the trip, but the not-so-secret message is: ‘We’re here, we can help, we can do this with you’ – and that can only work to Harry and Meghan’s advantage.”
Ingrid even claims the couple’s visit to Jordan, which has long been a favourite holiday destination of the Princess of Wales, who spent part of her childhood there, could end up paving the way for a reconciliation between Meghan, Harry and his estranged family.
“It is very possible there could be a personal royal truce and a reunion in that sense,” she claims. “But a professional royal truce, in terms of the Sussexes ever working as royals again, is very unlikely, despite the other difficulties in the family.”
Harry and Meghan, who controversially quit as senior working royals in 2020 and moved to Montecito, California with their two children, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, travelled to Jordan at the invitation of the World Health Organization’s director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
While there, the couple met with Jordanian leaders and senior health officials, attended a WHO roundtable and spoke to medical evacuees during a visit to the Specialty Hospital.
Although it has not been made public if Harry has spoken with his family in light of the recent scandals surrounding his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Ingrid believes it’s highly likely, adding that the duke would welcome increased contact.
“I do feel a desire from Harry for a rapprochement, because I’m absolutely certain Harry will have contacted his brother about the Andrew situation,” she claims. “Whether they have spoken, though… that is a different matter. But I’m sure he has contacted William and his father to express huge sympathy for what’s going on and has tried to keep in touch.
“The Andrew situation has created a sort of olive branch for Harry, undoubtedly.”
In recent months there have been signs that the prince is keen to build bridges with his father. Their meeting at Clarence House last September raised hopes they could be heading for a reconciliation. In January it was reported that Harry is keen for the King to play a key role at next year’s Invictus Games, which will take place in the UK for the first time since 2014.
But Ingrid warns there are still countless hurdles to overcome before a truce is called. “Both Meghan and Harry like to do things their own way, so that may always be an issue for his brother,” she claims. “William likes to be in control of everything, as we understand, and so does Kate to an extent, but Meghan is not the ideal person for that dynamic.”
Even though Kate previously enjoyed a warm friendship with Harry, the damage done by his memoir Spare – in which he accused Kate of upsetting Meghan – means relations are unlikely to return to normal.
“I suspect Catherine will back William in whatever he is thinking or feeling about Harry,” Ingrid claims. “She is obviously still very fond of Harry, because they were such great mates and that doesn’t disappear overnight, but she must also be very angry with him.”
As to whether the couple could one day return as working royals and provide much-needed support to Charles, William and Kate, we’re told it’s highly unlikely. “I don’t think they are pliable enough to return to the roles they once had,” Ingrid says. “We saw this issue straight away – it fell apart fairly quickly.”
The royal expert also feels that the Sussexes would be unwilling to give up their stateside set-up, saying, “Would Harry want to come back and leave his very comfortable life in California? It’s so beautiful in Montecito and they’ve got the most amazing house.”
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