President Donald Trump is getting the final word on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from the United States — and he made it clear he isn’t disappointed to see them go.
The president said he was “happy” that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had returned to Britain after spending roughly six years living in California.
“I’m happy about it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about the couple’s move. “I was not a fan.”
Trump then delivered an even sharper assessment of Harry and Meghan’s strained relationship with the British royal family.
“If I were the royal family, I would not have taken them back,” he said.
Trump Slams Meghan Over Treatment of Royal Family
Trump’s strongest criticism was directed at Meghan Markle.
The president said he believed Harry and Meghan showed “great disrespect” toward the royal family following their highly publicized departure from royal life.
“I didn’t like it,” Trump said.
He specifically criticized Meghan’s conduct toward the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III.
“I didn’t like the way she acted,” Trump said, adding that he considered her behavior toward the Queen and King Charles “terribly disrespectful.”
Trump’s comments reopen a long-running public dispute involving the president and the Sussexes, who have repeatedly made headlines since stepping away from their positions as senior working royals in 2020.
Trump Has Long Admired the British Monarchy
The president’s defense of the royal family should come as little surprise.
Trump has spoken frequently about his admiration for Queen Elizabeth and his relationship with King Charles.
During his first administration, Trump was welcomed to Britain by Queen Elizabeth for a state visit. He has also maintained a relationship with King Charles, whom Trump praised while discussing Harry and Meghan’s departure.
Trump described Charles as a “great” man and emphasized his respect for the monarchy.
That relationship provides important context for the president’s reaction to the Sussexes.
While Harry and Meghan have publicly discussed their grievances with royal life over the years, Trump has consistently taken a much more sympathetic view of the monarchy.
Prince Harry and Meghan Return to Britain
Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, have returned to Britain with their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, after years of living primarily in California.
Their move represents a dramatic change for a family that once appeared determined to build a permanent future in the United States.
The Sussexes stepped away from official royal duties in 2020 and eventually settled in Southern California, where they pursued a variety of media, publishing, charitable and business projects.
Their decision triggered an extraordinary period for the British monarchy.
Harry and Meghan subsequently discussed their experiences inside the royal family through interviews, documentaries and Harry’s memoir, creating intense international attention and deepening tensions with some members of the royal household.
Are Harry and Meghan Returning to Royal Duties?
Despite moving back to Britain, Harry and Meghan are not expected to return as working royals.
Their children are enrolled in school in Britain, while the family is expected to live at a private residence rather than formally moving back into the royal establishment.
That distinction is important.
Returning to Britain does not mean Harry and Meghan are returning to the positions they held before leaving royal duties.
Instead, the move appears to mark the beginning of another chapter for the Sussex family as Harry spends more time in his home country.
Their California Chapter Takes an Unexpected Turn
Harry and Meghan’s return is particularly striking considering the enormous attention surrounding their original departure from Britain.
After leaving royal duties, the couple established themselves in California and pursued opportunities in entertainment, publishing and other ventures.
They signed major media agreements, participated in high-profile interviews and documentaries, and launched several individual projects.
Some ventures attracted substantial attention, while others ended or changed direction.
Now, after six years in America, the family is heading in a very different direction.
For longtime royal watchers, the development raises new questions about Harry’s relationship with King Charles, his brother Prince William and the future of the Sussex family.
Trump Gets the Final Word
Trump, however, doesn’t appear conflicted about the move.
The president has made his position on Harry and Meghan clear for years, particularly when it comes to what he views as their treatment of Queen Elizabeth and King Charles.
Their departure from America gave him another opportunity to make that position known.
“I wouldn’t have taken them back,” Trump said.
For Harry and Meghan, returning to Britain could open the door to a new phase in their complicated relationship with the royal family.
For Trump, their exit from the United States appears to have produced a much simpler reaction:
He’s happy to see them go.