The tensions between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reached boiling point as Prince Harry and his wife Meghan struggle to cope with the news her dad Thomas Markle is being investigated for possession of child pornography in the Philippines.
While Meghan, 45, feels “a real sense of relief” that the allegations against her estranged father, 82, are finally being taken seriously after years of suspicion, royal insiders tell us the stress of yet another scandal is putting her and Harry’s already-shaky marriage at risk of implosion.
Revealing she’d cut off all contact with her dad in 2018, after learning that London’s Met Police had received a letter making serious claims of child sexual abuse against him, a spokesperson for Meghan released a statement saying, “As a mum of young children herself, she is utterly devastated by all of this. Above all, her thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed.”
But while she and her husband, 42, are publicly putting on a united front for the sake of their kids, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, we’re told that behind closed doors, Harry can’t believe the Markle family dramas have escalated and even followed them all the way to the UK – a move that was supposed to rescue their eight-year marriage.
Living life separately
Certainly, it hasn’t helped him and Meghan settle back into life in England. While Harry is determined to stick it out for 12 to 15 years, so their kids can benefit from a British education, the duchess has repeatedly raised concerns for the family’s safety.
A source says, “Meghan is counting down the days until they go back to California. It’s obvious that Harry feels this huge sense of relief being back in the UK, but most of Meghan’s life is in the US.”
Already, the former Suits actress has signed up to spend a significant chunk of time on the other side of the globe, confirming she’ll appear alongside Poh Ling Yeow as a judge on Junior MasterChef Australia, which is due to start filming in Melbourne early next year.
“I had an incredible time with the whole team at MasterChef this past April, so when they approached me to come back and work with this young group of talent, it was an easy yes,” says Meghan, who filmed a surprise appearance as a guest judge while on a four-day visit to Australia with Harry.
While our insiders say Harry might look forward to a bit of breathing space from his wife, he’s not convinced a reality show is the right place to revive her TV career – and he’s dead against her suggestions Archie and Lili could appear on screen alongside the young contestants.
Trouble on the horizon
“Harry’s heartbroken, and feeling more alone and isolated than ever,” an insider says. “Meghan is suddenly making all these massive, life-altering decisions on her own. He’s in a state of panic about what she’s planning next.
“It’s triggering a lot of old insecurities in him. He’s desperately trying to understand her mindset, but the communication has completely broken down and it’s a terrifyingly lonely position for him to be in.”
Another source adds, “If Meghan becomes unhappy and it doesn’t work, she’ll go back to the US and take the kids. And if Harry doesn’t want to come with them, it’ll mean long-distance, which could spell trouble for their marriage.
“He desperately wants Archie and Lilibet to feel settled, so if Meghan eventually turns around and says she can’t stay, they could be facing an incredibly difficult decision that risks pulling the family apart.”
We’re told Harry’s had deep and meaningful chats about his marriage difficulties with his father, with the sympathetic King, 77, offering to step in if Harry decides to part ways with Meghan.
“Charles has been watching everything unfold,” explains a royal insider. “All he wants is for Harry to be happy.”
