Meghan starring in The Gentlemen does NOT explain a full reverse Megxit – I know why they’ve really come back to Britain

FROM bitching about bridesmaid frocks with the Princess of Wales to telling Vinnie Jones where to stick his sawn-off 12-bore shotgun — Meghan Markle has certainly come a long way. If, as strong rumour suggests, Meghan is set to star in the third series of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix gangster soap The Gentlemen when her family relocates to Blighty, then it will certainly be the starriest role of a patchy acting career. Meghan Markle is making a return to acting in the third series of a gangster soap Credit: Getty The Duchess is set to star in Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series The Gentlemen But it STILL would not explain full reverse Megxit. As Oprah herself might say — WHAAAT? They say that blood is thicker than water but perhaps there is nothing on this planet quite as thick as Prince Harry. Because I can’t help wondering if Harry has REALLY thought through the full implications of his family’s unexpected return to this country. When Harry and his estranged big brother William last appeared in public together — at the coronation of King Charles III in May 2023 — I could imagine only one occasion when the brothers would ever again have to endure each other’s company. At their father’s funeral. William and Harry are the monarchy’s answer to Michael and Fredo Corleone. But with Harry and Meghan and their children moving back to this country, the royal social calendar is suddenly transformed. What on earth will Christmas look like? The Royal Family traditionally spend Yuletide at Sandringham House, the King’s country estate in Norfolk. Are Meghan and Kate, Princess of Wales, REALLY going to be pulling crackers in just over four months? Will William REALLY be chuckling good-naturedly as he helps Harry cover his bald patch with a paper hat? Will the years of bad blood and bitter revelations and tell-all, dung-dishing interviews have a discreet veil drawn over them in the interests of family harmony? William and Harry seemed to be bitterly — and permanently — estranged. Is that meant to change now? Will it change again when William eventually ascends to the throne? Our future King William V does not look like a man who can be forced into a reconciliation of convenience he does not desire – no matter what his father may wish. And how can the Royal Family EVER trust those blabbermouths Harry and Meghan to not leak family secrets to their loyal flunkies? After years of vicious accusations, why would Kate even want to be in the same room as Meghan? Who knows? Not Harry, that’s for sure. I have seen it suggested Harry could say sorry. Best not hold our collective breath. In the years since Megxit, Harry has revealed a stunning lack of self-awareness. He — and Meghan — have acted as if they can say whatever they like and suffer no consequences. But there ARE consequences for all the ordure they have heaped on the Royal Family. You see it in polls revealing their popularity with the British public. Harry polls low, but only disgraced Uncle Andy polls lower than Meghan. And now they’re coming home, they’re coming home — the whining runaway royals are coming home. Are we REALLY meant to forget the years of abuse they have inflicted on the Royal Family? How can we? It began with the “racist” revelations in the Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021, when Meghan accused members of the Royal Family of having conversations about what colour skin their baby might have. Director Guy Ritchie has reportedly recruited Meghan to star in his hit show Credit: Splash Badminton House, which features in The Gentlemen Credit: Alamy Then there were the lurid tales of brotherly strife that Harry revealed in his autobiography Spare, reporting William “grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace and . . . knocked me to the floor” during a confrontation in 2019. And the Netflix series when Meghan described her first meeting with Kate as “jarring“. “I’m a hugger,” she gushed. “I didn’t know that could be jarring for Brits.” Poor Meghan! The warm-hearted American sweetheart suddenly surrounded all those cold fish Brits! The attacks have been relentless. In 2023, Harry told ITV’s Tom Bradby that William and Kate stereotyped Meghan as “American actress, divorced, biracial”. Harry and Meghan have constantly complained that Meghan’s treatment in this country was at best snobbish and, at worst, openly racist. They talked as if they would be happy to never see the Royal Family — or this country — again. Whatever happened to turning their back on Blighty, home of the “racist” Royal Family and the “evil” British press? Whatever happened to Harry and Meghan “finding freedom”? Does the Duke of Sussex REALLY believe that all is forgotten — and forgiven? Then he is dumber than he looks. America has perhaps not been the unalloyed paradise that Harry and Meghan were optimistically expecting. They have pimped their royal revelations about as far as the market can stand. As they say in Tinsel Town — these suckers have peaked. Their career now seems to be pivoting towards pseudo-royal tours. Hardman actor Vinnie Jones wielding two shotguns Credit: Alamy Vinnie on the set of The Gentlemen Credit: Click News and Media They have already enjoyed high-profile visits to Nigeria, Colombia and Australia. But nobody saw full reverse ­Megxit coming. I would have bet that Meghan would never set foot in this country again. And yes, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will maintain their homes in California and Portugal. And yes, there will always be a private jet waiting to whisk them to the next charity event, awards ceremony or climate conference. But their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, are to be educated here when school starts in September. And nothing ties you to a place like the tyranny of the school year. So commuting from California is not an option. And we want Harry and his family to be safe and secure in the United Kingdom. Of course we do. But does that mean that the British taxpayer is responsible for funding the safety and security of these fabulously wealthy private ­citizens and their children? Whatever happened to the “financial independence” we were promised Megxit would bring? Harry and Meghan have an estimated net worth of £45million. But on Friday afternoon Harry and his fellow celebrity claimants were presented with the first bill for legal costs due after their failed lawsuit against the publishers of the Daily Mail — at £9.5million. And that is just an upfront payment. The final figure will be considerably higher because the Mail publishers won an emphatic victory — and have costs of over £34million. So flash Harry is perhaps not quite as flush as he used to be. And I wonder — why the hell should we be expected to bankroll a man who wants to annihilate one of our nation’s greatest institutions — our free Press? We are told that Harry and Meghan will NOT be resuming life as “working royals”. We are told they will not be “half-in, half-out royals”. But this is a load of Horlicks. Because “half-in, half-out royals” is surely EXACTLY what Harry and Meghan are. Because every move they make ­— from flogging jam to tell-all interviews with Oprah — is totally predicated on their royal connection. I suggest that “half-in, half-out” royals is their job description. And their major selling point. Because without the royal connection, who are they? What are they? A former Suits actress and her old Etonian. Without the royal connection, the world would not care. Yet Harry and Meghan have done nothing but spit poison at the Royal Family for years. And it is the rudeness, the nastiness, the brazen lack of gratitude, grace and basic good manners that is so hard to stomach. And now they are moving back. This pair have more front than Selfridges. But — welcome home, Harry. Because I can still vividly recall Harry and Meghan’s wedding day in Windsor on a dazzling spring day in 2018. The atmosphere among the crowds was unforgettable. I have never felt such an outpouring of love. It was truly extraordinary. The country was deliriously happy for them — Diana’s youngest boy and his beautiful, glamorous bride. The fact Meghan was of mixed race made it feel like a big day — and a great day — for the Royal Family, the country and the human race. Harry and Meghan stupidly squandered all of that goodwill. But there remains a deep well of affection for Harry. There always will be. Because the memory of the broken-hearted 12-year-old boy who walked with his 15-year-old brother behind his mother’s coffin in 1997 is forever seared into our national consciousness. Despite Harry’s always tasteless and sometimes disgusting indiscretions, many British people will be always happy to see him. But I don’t know about his big brother.