Meghan Markle‘s return to the UK gives her more freedom than she had as a working royal. However, experts say the palace still holds significant “leverage” over her access to the Royal Family.
Meghan and Prince Harry have returned to Britain with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The family plans to stay in the UK for an extended period while remaining private, non-working members of the Royal Family.
Meghan Markle’s new UK life will be affected by ‘leverage’ palace holds, claim experts
Meghan’s new life in Britain looks very different from her time as a working member of the Royal Family. As a private citizen, she can continue building her career, managing her own projects and working with a team outside the palace structure. The former “Suits” star is also returning with a much stronger support network than she had as a working royal, according to PEOPLE.
An ally told the outlet that Meghan has spoken openly about her experience with the institution, but that does not necessarily mean her second chapter in Britain will follow the same pattern. Another source highlighted the strength of the Sussexes’ current circle, saying their support system is “stronger now than it ever was to protect her — to protect them.”
Meghan may no longer answer to palace officials, but royal commentator Kinsey Schofield said Buckingham Palace still holds an important advantage. The palace cannot dictate Meghan’s career choices or control her projects as a private citizen. However, it can decide how closely she and Harry interact with the official Royal Family.
Schofield explained that the institution controls access to royal events, working royals and official residences. “The palace can’t control what they do, but it can control access to the institution.” She said that control gives the palace significant influence over how much proximity Meghan and Harry have to the royal establishment. “That is where the palace still has considerable leverage” (via Fox News).
Schofield also pointed to an important trade-off in Meghan’s return to Britain. As a private citizen, Meghan has far more freedom to make decisions about her career and public image. At the same time, she no longer receives the institutional protection that comes with being a working royal.
Originally written by Khushali Srivastava on RealityTea.
