Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle were likely keeping a close eye on the recent US election results, and are probably disappointed that Donald Trump has secured a second term as President. Speaking to OK!, former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond suggests that living in the US might not be as appealing for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex now.
"Harry and Meghan have been very well behaved on all fronts recently with no public criticism of the Royal Family and no overt political statements before the US election. However, it's obvious that neither will be pleased to see Trump back in the White House," she says. "It could be uncomfortable for them living in a country where the President has made some pretty scathing comments about them both."
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Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Donald Trump has previously questioned whether Prince Harry should have been granted a US visa following the prince's admission in his memoir Spare that he had used drugs as a teenager.
And earlier this year at a political conference, Trump criticised Joe Biden's administration for being "too gracious" to Harry and Meghan since their move to the US in 2020. He also accused Harry of having "betrayed the Queen," calling it "unforgivable," but as Jennie points out, it's hard to predict whether his feelings will impact how he treats the couple, who currently reside in Montecito, California.
"Trump often says one thing and does the opposite," Jennie remarks. She continues: "I understand that Trump himself is in dispute with the Heritage Foundation because it forced the release of immigration records concerning [his wife] Melania's late mother. So he's not a fan of the organisation and may be disinclined to help it pursue its accusations over Harry's visa. So that problem may have gone away."
As the election approached, Trump's son Eric seemed to confirm this stance, stating in an interview with the Daily Mail, "Truthfully I don't give a damn about Prince Harry and I don't think this country does either." He further emphasised his point by adding, "no one cares" about Harry's US visa status.
Jennie also notes that Harry and Meghan appear content with their current location, saying: "The Sussexes are living in a very liberal, Democratic part of the United States – and in one of the most expensive and protected areas of California. So I think they can live a life pretty cocooned from Trumpite America. They will obviously not be happy with the result of the election, but I doubt if it is enough for them to uproot their family and move elsewhere."
However, the royal expert also weighs in on the Sussexes' 'escape plan', revealing that they could find sanctuary in Portugal thanks to a newly acquired holiday home. "They do now have a bolt hole in Portugal," she explains. "It's probably much more than a bolt hole – it's undoubtedly a very beautiful property and was maybe sourced by Eugenie's husband, Jack."
Jennie adds: "So, if things get tricky or uncomfortable in the States, Europe may see a little more of Harry and Meghan and their children. My guess, though, is that they will let the dust settle and see how things pan out – they seem very happy in their Californian lifestyle and I'm sure they don't want to unsettle their children unnecessarily."
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