Why Are Harry and Meghan Really Returning to Britain? Security, Taxes and a Secret UK Project

0:00 Ah Callarogu Shark Media, Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I am your host, Mark Francis, Prince William and Catherine were seen that bow Moral on Friday, as the royal family discussed the fallout from Harry and Meghan's planned return to Britain. The Daily Mail called it a Sussex summit. During the family's summer stay in Scotland. William and Catherine were photographed leaving the bow Moral estate together in a land Rover, while Princess Anne Zara and Mike Tindall and Prince Edwin and James, all of Wessex were also seen in the royal convoy. A source told The Daily Mail that members of the family were believed to be heading out for grouse shooting near Corgarf Castle. The more important development, though, is what is being discussed behind the scenes. I Sawce told The Daily Mail that William has no desire whatsoever to reconcile with his brother. As it stands, the move back to Britain may have a major professional component for Meghan.

1:00 News dot com dot Au reports that entertainment sources say the Duchess of Sussex has been offered a role in an upcoming project based in the UK. Details of the project, including exactly what Megan would be doing, had not yet been disclosed at the time of this recording. Another theory comes from Tom Sykes, who suggested the move is about taxes. Namesh Shah, chief executive of London tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, had posted to x Good to see Harry and Meghan achieve six full tax years of non UK residency to manage the temporary non resident rules for capital gains tax. The timing of their move back to the UK is immaculate. Britain has rules designed to prevent someone from leaving the country temporarily realizing investment gains while abroad, and then quickly returning home without paying British capital gains tax on certain gains. Generally speaking, if someone leaves Britain and then returns after too short a period abroad, certain gains realized while they were away can potentially become taxable when they return. But remaining outside Britain long enough can take someone beyond those temporary non residence rules, and according to Shah, Harry and Meghan appear to have hit that mark.

2:17 They left Britain at the beginning of twenty twenty, just before the end of the British tax year. They have now completed six full British tax years as non residents. Before their reported return, Harry reportedly informed British security officials about his plans to move back to the UK before King Charles was told. The Daily Mirror reports that Harry notified officials earlier this month so preparations could begin for his family's security. The story reminds that Charles was not informed until last Sunday. Former Royal Protection chief died Davies told The Mirror that the family's planned move changes the security calculation, saying the whole risk assessment will have to be reviewed. I wonder given the short notice, has anybody worked it out for them, because even me, who has been very opposed to him getting protection as a non royal, now I think the whole scenario is changing. He's going to stay in a settled address. His address is going to be known, and obviously the issue regarding his children and going to school is going to be another area where you've got to look at the whole issue of security.

3:18 Davies said the costs of protecting a family of four could be substantial if the government decides that police protection is required, he said, in terms of cost, it's going to cost a huge amount. If they've found a premises that's got to be brought up to date in terms of security, and I know how expensive that can be. It's not just securing the windows and doors, it's the technical things, the safe room that has to go in and so on, and then you've got vehicles. An armored car comes in at about a half a million pounds for the top end. If they spread each other four ways, with two different schools and Megan and him getting it, it's going to cost you and I a huge amount of money. The cost of protecting a family of four now the home visits, where they're going, the quasi royal events, the whole thing is going to cost millions if we have to pay for it. So something has to be decided by somebody with the current up to date knowledge and information. Davies also pointed to Harry's unusual security profile.

4:11 He said the problem is that Harry is no longer a working Royal and no other non working royal gets protection. But he can say I'm unique, which he is because of his war service and because of his big mouth and the book he's written. So there are all manner of things that would have to now be taken into consideration. There have been in the past attacks on Harry when he was much younger, and people have gone to prison for it. The whole issue now is up for grabs. Another issue would be security surrounding Archie and a little bit as they attend the school. Davies recalled the arrangements made for William and Harry when they were children. He said, if you recall at different times Winniam and Harry both had people like World Protection Officer Ken Wharf there at the time they would go to the school and they would have offices based at the school ready to respond. Clearly, that's another area where you have to carry out a proper review structure, look at the security, look at how people can get in and out, look at a contingency plan.

5:04 If anybody got in, it's a huge measure and there are issues that would have to be carefully considered. Davies also said the nature of potential threats has changed over the years. In my day it was the IRA or the Provisional IRA and the Animal Liberation Front. Now it's moved to fixated people, and there are a lot of people fixated about Harry and Meghan, and that raises the threat level. I think Harry will continue to employ his own private security team, but in the hope that he can persuade Ravek to upgrade in whatever shape or form. I think that's his hope now that he's going to have a permanent address. Property expert Cal Graham of we By Any Home told The Mirror that if privacy is the main concern, the Sussex's may be better suited to something relatively discreet rather than a grand country estate. Graham said a modern home on a privately managed estate, set well back from the road and shielded by mature landscaping would attract far less attention than an instantly recognizable country tree mansion. The perfect home for them may not be the grandest one. It's more likely to be the property that allows them to live most normally. Rebecca English of The Daily Mail says the biggest issue surrounding Harry and Meghan's return to Britain may not be the move itself, it's how Little Buckingham Palace apparently knew about it beforehand.

6:19 English reports that they may have been considerably more planning underway than the Palace realized. One source claims Meghan privately looked at two possible schools in the Cotswolds for Archie and Lilibet during the family's July visit. The same source claims the Sussexes had identified a possible home belonging to a celebrity. English makes an important qualification here. She says she has not been able to independently verify either claim. Still, if those claims are accurate, they raise an obvious question. If Harry and Meghan were already looking at schools and a home, why wasn't any of this mentioned during their meeting with Charles. One person with experience dealing with the Sussexes told English they could not shake the feeling that there's more to this than we know. Another added there always is with them, more palacing just a moment. Prince William is reportedly firmly opposed to Harry and Meghan returning to any official role within the royal family, even as these Sussexes prepare to move back to Britain. The Daily Mirror reports to King Charles and the Prince of Wales are in complete lockstep. On one point, Harry and Meghan will not be allowed to create the kind of half in, half out arrangement that was rejected when they stepped away from the royal duties in twenty twenty. One source close to William and Catherine said, obviously the Sussex's return will make inevitable headlines for a few days, but it has no bearing on the Prince and Princess's life moving forward.

7:42 If anything, events that have affected them over the past couple of years have made them even more determined to concentrate on what is important to them, their family, their public roles, and the ability to provide generational change for good with their public roles and look forward to the future. What Harry and Meghan choose to do is up to them. As far as William and Catherine are concerned, they have left that period of their lives behind many years ago. While I simply cannot forgive everything that has been against them and the family, they do not have the time or the energy or any negativity or the drama that the Sussexes surround themselves with, and they have demonstrated with their public roles. Everything they are trying to do is about positivity and making the world a better place as far as they can. Gossi columnist Rob Shooter quotes an unnamed source of saying, Kate is the voice of reason.

8:29 She knows William and Harry may never be brothers in the way they once were, but they can be civil, They can cooperate, and they can stop feeding the story that the royal family is permanently divided. This isn't about forgiveness. It's about strategy. Kate is thinking about the institution and the future when William is king and she is Queen. Kate is a chess player. She doesn't need Harry to love William, she needs him to stop fighting him, and they have it. If you like to email us whoddresses the Palace Intrigued at gmail dot com. If you're on Spotify and leave a comment. If you're on Apple, hit that button up there that says listen uninterrupted and get the show for five bucks a month commercial free, and you appreciate your support. And my francis my thanks to John McDermott. This is Palace Intriguing. Good turns