President Donald Trump has renewed his criticism of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, saying he was pleased that the couple had left the United States for Britain and arguing that the royal family should not have welcomed them back.
Trump made the comments at the White House after being asked about Harry and Meghan’s return to Britain. “I’m happy about it,” Trump said. “I was not a fan.” He accused the couple of treating the British royal family with “great disrespect” and said he particularly objected to Meghan’s conduct toward the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III.
Trump, who has long spoken warmly about the British monarchy, praised both Elizabeth and Charles. “I’ve known him for a long time. He’s a great, great guy,” Trump said of Charles. Turning again to Harry and Meghan, he added: “I wouldn’t have taken them back, frankly. If I were the royal family, I would not have taken them back.”
Harry and Meghan arrived in Britain with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, on Aug. 26 after spending several years primarily in California. Their return immediately revived debate over their relationship with the monarchy and whether their presence in Britain could lead to a broader family reconciliation.
King Charles moved to clarify the situation on Sept. 7. In guidance issued on his behalf, the royal household reiterated that Harry and Meghan remain nonworking members of the royal family and will conduct their charitable and commercial activities as private citizens. Their return to Britain therefore does not restore the official royal roles they surrendered in 2020.
Harry has previously said publicly that he wants to repair relations with his family. In a 2025 interview, he said, “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore.” His comments came during a period of particularly strained relations with Charles over security arrangements for Harry and his family while in Britain.
The family dispute dates back to January 2020, when Harry and Meghan announced that they intended to step away from their positions as senior working royals and become financially independent. After discussions with Queen Elizabeth and other senior royals, the couple stopped carrying out official duties and eventually settled in California.
Relations deteriorated further after Harry and Meghan gave a highly publicized television interview in 2021 in which they discussed their unhappiness with royal life and made serious allegations about their treatment inside the institution. Harry later provided additional details about disputes with his father and brother, Prince William, in his 2023 memoir, Spare.
Trump has repeatedly sided publicly with the royal family during those disputes. He has praised Queen Elizabeth, whom he met during his first presidency, and has maintained a friendly relationship with Charles. His criticism of Meghan also predates the couple’s latest move, with the two exchanging critical remarks publicly over several years.
Neither Harry nor Meghan immediately issued a public response to Trump’s latest comments. Their return to Britain has nevertheless generated strong reactions among royal followers, with some viewing it as an opportunity for the family to rebuild strained relationships and others questioning whether years of public accusations can easily be overcome.
The latest developments also highlight the distinction between a personal family reconciliation and a return to royal service. Charles has left open the possibility of private contact with his son and grandchildren while making clear that Harry and Meghan will not represent the monarchy in an official capacity.
For Trump, the issue appears more straightforward. Although he said he was happy that Harry and Meghan had returned to Britain, he made clear that he would have taken a harder position had the decision been his. The remarks add another high profile voice to a royal family dispute that has continued to attract international attention more than six years after Harry and Meghan stepped away from official royal life.
