Fresh reports suggesting Prince Harry could soon return to the UK have triggered strong reactions from royal commentators, particularly amid claims that he may regain official police protection while visiting Britain.
According to recent coverage, the Duke of Sussex is expected to be reinstated with a police security team during UK trips, following a long-running legal battle over his safety. While a final decision has yet to be confirmed, the move would mark a significant shift by the Home Office.
U.K.-based royal commentator and broadcaster Afua Hagan welcomed the development, calling it a positive step for Harry. Speaking to Newsweek, she said the reported U-turn would be widely celebrated if it unfolds as described.
“If this is true and it plays out the way it’s been reported, then I think this is great for Harry,” Hagan explained. “Even with the King scaling back his cancer treatment, if there was ever a situation where Harry needed to return to Britain at short notice, he would now know he could do so with the appropriate security in place.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle lost their round-the-clock police protection after stepping back from royal duties and relocating to the United States. Since then, Harry has consistently challenged the Home Office’s decision, which replaced his automatic security with a case-by-case arrangement.
In December, the Home Office reportedly launched a new threat assessment, which The Mail on Sunday claims has now been completed. The paper suggests that the assessment favors restoring Harry’s police protection, although officials have not yet made a final ruling.
Hagan pointed to past security concerns as evidence supporting Harry’s case. “When Harry was here before and a stalker got within meters of him, it proved his point,” she said. “This is something Harry wants, something Meghan wants, and something that makes sense.”
While Hagan remains uncertain about whether Meghan Markle would accompany Harry back to the UK, she believes the change could make future visits more realistic. “It certainly paves the way for that to happen safely,” she noted, adding that it could also open the door for the couple’s children to spend time in Britain with their royal relatives.
However, not all royal watchers are convinced that a family reconciliation is imminent. Royal correspondent Rebecca English struck a more cautious tone, writing that while Harry’s return appears increasingly likely due to confidence within his camp over security arrangements, reports of an approaching father-son reunion may be overstated.
“Efforts by the Sussexes’ PR team to suggest a reconciliation is close appear to be somewhat wide of the mark,” English wrote.
As the final decision on Harry’s security remains pending, royal observers continue to debate what his possible return could mean for both family relations and his future presence in the UK.
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