Meghan Markle 'anxious' about UK return and is reluctant to join Prince Harry in May

Meghan Markle is “anxious” about returning to the UK and has grave doubts about whether she will joined Prince Harry at the 10th Anniversary Service of the Invictus Games which her husband has championed so consistently, an insider has said.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex now live in California, having relocated in 2020 after controversially stepping down as frontline royals.

Since then they have had a strained relationship with the British royals, especially after levelling allegations of racism in a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. A subsequent documentary series, Meghan and Harry, which aired on Netflix later the following year, and Spare, Harry’s memoir, published a month later, did little to ease the tensions.

And while Meghan did return for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, her husband attended his father King Charles III’s coronation in May on his own, with Meghan and their two children, Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two, remaining in the US.

Invictus is an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans - and Harry is due to speak at the anniversary event in May. But Meghan has reservations about attending.

Harry is due to speak at the event, due to take place at St Paul’s Cathedral at 5pm on May 8 - and Express.co.uk has seen a copy of the schedule.

The source explained: “The dates and details are being kept very hush-hush.

“Both Harry and Meghan are listed as guests and a speech has been scheduled, but there is still a question mark over whether Meghan will make an appearance. Her name has been pencilled in as a TBC (to be confirmed).”

Referring to the King and Queen, the insider added: “Charles and Camilla have very good relationships with their other grandchildren, and everyone is keen for them to have a stronger bond with Archie and Lily.

“Both Harry and Meghan are keen for the children to become closer with Harry’s family, but she’s very anxious about returning to England.”

The event was seen as a “very important part of Harry and Meghan’s rehabilitation,” the source continued.

They stressed: “It’s viewed as an important event that is almost on par with what a working royal would undertake.

“It’s a worthy cause where Harry is the key ambassador, and it will be a good starting point for the Sussexes to repair relations with the royal family and the British people at the same time.

“The children’s attendance is still up in the air because they will only visit the UK if their mother Meghan decides to attend.

“Harry is hoping that they will join him so that they can all enjoy the service, and everyone can meet up with members of his family while they are over.”