The question everyone is asking, while simultaneously recovering from "freedom flight" whiplash, is: why? Why are Harry and Meghan going back to Britain?

My first thought was this: Harry wants Archie and Lilibet educated the royal-aristocratic-way. The longer the children are raised entirely in America, the less "royal" they'll seem. The Sussexes appear to have realized what many people already have: their greatest asset is their proximity to the Crown.

Look at their biggest commercial successes. Harry & Meghan, the Oprah interview and Spare were all built around the Royal Family. Meanwhile, With Love, Meghan wasn't a breakout hit, the polo documentary barely registered, Spotify ended their deal, the podcast through Lemonada generated even less buzz, and Cookie Queens, via the couple's Archewell Productions, barely made a dent at the box office.

The pattern is clear: the closer they are to the royal story, the bigger the audience.

I, like many, wondered, what and when were the turning points? Because this feels like it's all Harry's decision, let's be honest. Meghan has made no bones about how she felt about living in England. According to journalist, and Sussex sympathizer, Omid Scobie, in his book, Endgame, he reported that Meghan had "never felt at home" in the UK and " never wants to step foot in England again."

And yet here they are, heading back.

It was reported that the couple would not be living in London itself. Instead, journalists and pundits alike are placing their bets on the idyllic Cotswolds as their British home base. The area is close to Highgrove, the king's much-loved property, and a familiar territory for Harry. On the bright side for Meghan, her friend, comedian and former talk show host, Ellen Degeneres also lives in the area. Additionally, her absolute bestie, Markus Anderson, the global membership director for Soho House, is also regularly stationed there. So, it's not all bad news for Meghan. 

However, the latest whispers are more intriguing: Harry and Meghan may land on the Althorp estate. Althorp is the Spencer family estate, home to Harry’s uncle, Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, where Diana spent part of her childhood and where she was laid to rest following her death in 1997. Notably, the Sussexes and their children made a visit to Althorp during their recent U.K. trip, with Harry, Archie and Lili photographed walking through the grounds carrying flowers.

There is no confirmation, but it would make quite a statement... and headlines, for days. 

That connection to Diana is particularly interesting right now. Earl Spencer has just announced a deeply personal new book about his sister, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, due to be published on September 22,  just ahead of the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death next year. 

And that timing is hard to ignore, given there has been rumours that Harry could be preparing some kind of project, for Netflix, connected to the 30th anniversary of his mother's death. Although that remains speculation at this point.

The Tipping Point?

So, what was behind the change of heart? Reports continue to suggest that Harry misses Britain. In America, he is a celebrity. In Britain, he is still the King’s son, Diana’s son and a prince, identities he can never fully recreate abroad.

And that is why I keep thinking about the awkward exchange between Harry and renowned director, and number-one Knicks fan, Spike Lee during the NBA Finals in June. After Game 5, as Harry was leaving his seat, just one row down from Lee, the director appeared to get Harry’s attention and began speaking animatedly to him. When Harry went to shake his hand, Lee initially pulled his away and pointed his finger at Harry. Harry, looking somewhat shell-shocked, tried to play it cool, and the two eventually continued their conversation before parting.

There is some history between them. Years ago, Lee, himself, revealed on a morning talk show that Harry had used the pseudonym “Spike Lee” for a secret Facebook account, an account Harry later changed to “Spike Wells.” We have no idea what was actually said between the two during the NBA game. Still, the moment was undeniably uncomfortable, and I can’t help wondering whether it represented something bigger for Harry.

Perhaps after six years, he's discovered that leaving the institution also meant leaving behind some of the automatic status that came with it.

Chess Not Checkers?

There is another enormous piece of this puzzle: security.

For years, Harry's argument has essentially been saying that he cannot safely bring his family to Britain without appropriate protection. His taxpayer-funded police protection was removed after he and Meghan stepped down as working royals, and his legal challenge over that decision ultimately failed.

Now the circumstances have changed dramatically.

Harry, Meghan and their family will be living in the UK, with the children attending school there. Harry is expected to continue charitable and public activities too, including the Invictus Games next year.. 

And suddenly, one of the biggest practical arguments against automatically protecting them, that they no longer lived in Britain, is gone.

The king, and indeed the government, surely cannot simply shrug their shoulders if the monarch's son, his wife, and grandchildren are living permanently in Britain and there is a credible security risk. 

In fact, The Times today is reporting that RAVEC is expected to restart its consideration of Harry's security, with a senior government source acknowledging that the decision to live in the UK "will change the nature of the consideration on security." Prime Minister Andy Burnham was asked about the issue and simply described it as a “private matter.”

As of now, politically and practically, the situation is very different from when Harry was living permanently in California.

The Sussexes have played a very interesting hand.

If RAVEC ultimately restores government-funded protection, you can imagine the Sussexes looking at each other and thinking: checkmate.

And then came Meghan's acting bombshell

Yesterday's other huge twist was People reporting that Meghan was in talks to join Guy Ritchie's third, though not yet scheduled, season of The Gentlemen, filming in London. Journalist Bronte Coy, seemingly the Sussex's go-to journo du jour, even suggested it was a major reason behind the move.

My immediate reaction was one of two possibilities: either Meghan had landed a genuinely smart career move (and finally heeded Queen Elizabeth's advice prior to the marriage: keep your day job and don't become a working royal,) or, this was another Sussex announcement that didn't quite materialize.

This morning brought an even bigger twist.

Legendary former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown reported exclusively on her Fresh Hell Substack that Meghan is "no longer" being considered for the role because the backlash in Britain became, in Brown's words, "untenable."

I did read a few negative comments regarding the possibility of the role but... geez. 

*Update*

Journalist Dan Wakeford, former EIC of People, posted on his Instagram an explanation for the acting role turn around and headlines. He says Guy Ritchie has a history of "newsjacking", a tactic used to get buzz on projects. Wakeford also questioned why a third season had been announced that hadn't even been greenlit yet.

In Meghan's case he believes the headlines were created (by her PR) to change the perception that she was returning to the UK solely because "Harry won the fight."

What happens next?

The biggest losers may end up being William and Catherine.

Every school run, every Cotswolds sighting and every interaction, or non-interaction, will become headlines drawing attention away from the future king and queen's on-going work. Of course much of the public and the king wish for a reconciliation between the brothers, but insiders say William is no where near considering that yet.

The palace still insists that Harry and Meghan will have no half-in-half-out deal. They are coming back as private citizens, not working royals

But in the spirit of royal journalist and insider Tom Sykes: if you believe that I've got some swamp land to sell you. 

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