‘No interest’: Prince Harry responds to new rumour

Prince Harry has responded to a persistent rumour about his life in California but that doesn’t mean some major changes could be afoot.

The corridors of Buckingham Palace are abuzz with talk that Prince Harry may be looking to abandon California.

But according to fresh reports the Duke of Sussex has “no interest” in leaving his life in the US.

Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean he won’t travel to the UK more frequently as part of an effort to reclaim at least some skerrick of his former royal role.

Indeed he has retuned to the UK several times during 2024 already for events, a memorial service and court appearances.

It was reported on the weekend that Prince Harry was seeking advice from people “from his old life” as a working royal as he works toward ending his “US exile” and attempting to “rehabilitate” his image.

Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex departs The Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service at St Paul's Cathedral on May 08, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Invictus Games Foundation)

It appeared to be the latest move in his bid to start a new chapter and reconcile with his family – and, according to UK newspaper The Mail on Sunday, could potentially see him “initiate a partial return to the royal fold”.

“He is clearly reaching out thinking, ‘I need to do something different because what I’m doing is clearly not working.’ In short, he is rethinking the way he operates,” said the source.

Reports have now emerged, however, that the Prince is not planning a permanent move back to the UK.

Quoting “well-placed sources,” the BBC said that Prince Harry will continue to be based in the US, where he lives with his wife Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, and their two children.

The UK’s Telegraph newspaper has also quoted sources who have said that Harry has “no interest” in leaving the US where he is surrounded by an “amazing” set of new friends and is busy with various projects.

In the past Harry has said security concerns about the safety of the Duchess of Sussex is a major bar to him returning to Britain.

There have been rumours that Happy wants to spend more time in the UK. (Photo by ANDRES CASTILLA / Colombian Vice-Presidency / AFP)

Could still be seen far more in the UK

However the multiple denials that Harry will be coming back to the UK on a permanent basis do not preclude him spending more time in the UK while officially he is still be based in Montecito.

It’s reported that at least one of those approached by Harry that the duke is open to ideas, including a return to “very low-key royal duties”.

That would only be made possible, the insider added, “If certain members of the family could find it in themselves to allow it.”

There currently appears little sign of that. While the prince did, briefly, meet King Charles following the monarch’s cancer diagnosis, he is not thought to have spoken to Prince William.

The princes were at the memorial service for Lord Robert Fellowes last week.

Yet those attending said the brothers did not appear to exchange any words.

Prince Harry is said to be concerned about security measure for he and wife Meghan Markle should they return full time to the UK. (Photo by RAUL ARBOLEDA / AFP)

Earlier this month, the UK’s Times newspaper reported that Harry was secretly frustrated by aspects of his life in California and is having trouble moving on from the past.

A friend of the Duke of Sussex’s claimed to the publication that they were one of a few who get “the odd WhatsApp from him”, and that he comes across as “angry”.

“He’s an angry boy. Things haven’t turned out how he wanted,” the insider claimed.

“I think he misses being over here [in Britain] desperately and wants to be admired more. Anyone who knows him feels he’d rather be top of the pops here with everyone loving him, as they do with William and Kate.”

Another source the publication claimed had known Harry since his teenage years added that he was missing the English lifestyle, more than four years after he moved to the US with wife Meghan.

“He has ended up isolated from his family and most of his old mates, in an environment where your friendships are not like the ones you forged as a young man,” the insider said.

Originally published as ‘No interest’: Prince Harry responds to new rumour