DAILY EXPRESS – August 25, 2026
Meghan Markle’s anticipated return to the United Kingdom alongside Prince Harry is being viewed by royal watchers as a double-edged moment — an opportunity for renewed public warmth, but also a near-unavoidable comparison to the Princess of Wales.
Royal commentator John McDermott, co-founder of Caloroga Media and host of the Palace Intrigue podcast, told the Daily Express that Meghan will face an inherent challenge in any UK appearance. ‘Meghan may be compared to Princess Catherine, who she is not on talking terms with,’ McDermott said. ‘That is a difficult shadow to live in.’
Despite the estrangement, McDermott emphasized that Harry himself still commands considerable goodwill among the British public. ‘Harry is still loved in the UK,’ he said. ‘People remember him fondly from his years of service and his connection to Diana’s legacy. The warmth for Harry has not gone away.’
The couple’s planned appearance is tied to Harry’s Invictus Games commitments, which McDermott says will give the visit a purpose beyond the personal. But analysts note that any joint public event in Britain inevitably invites contrasts with the Wales family, whose own rehabilitation narrative has progressed in parallel.
Originally published at express.co.uk on August 25, 2026.