The Duke of Sussex and his family relocated back to Britain last month.
Prince Harry’s UK return may not be going the way he planned (Image: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Prince Harry’s UK return has left him “angry”, much to the disappointment of his friends, it has been revealed. Just weeks ago, The Duke of Sussex relocated back to Britain with his family after six years living in America.
While the UK return has not seen Harry become a working royal again – a duty he quit in 2020 – many were hoping it would be some sort of fresh start for the Sussex family, who for years have had rocky relationships with Harry’s royal relatives. So far, this hasn’t been the case. Instead, Harry has been issued with a big royal blow, with a letter having been released on behalf of King Charles reiterating the fact Harry and Meghan are private citizens who cannot use their HRH titles.
The fact he is not a working royal again is probably not a shock for the duke, but it has been reported that the letter was a “surprise” to him, and has left him annoyed. This is because the duke and duchess reportedly would rather be regarded as “public figures” than private citizens, especially where their security is concerned.
With this causing fresh drama, it is believed Harry is “angry” back in the UK, much to the disappointment of his friends in Britain who were apparently excited for his return.
The Daily Mail’s royal expert Charlotte Griffiths revealed on an episode of The Royalist podcast: “Well, I can tell you his head is exactly where it was pretty much in 2020 when he left.
“That’s been so dispiriting for friends of mine on his outer circle and some in his inner circle, who said they were sort of hoping that Harry would come back to the UK and there’d be this new bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, possibly that tail between his legs, Prince Harry feeling contrite, friendly, warm and fuzzy. And that is not the case. He’s angry. He’s definitely infuriated with the institution, just as he ever was.”
The family are back living in the UK (Image: Instagram / @meghan)
The reason behind Harry and Meghan’s return to the UK is unclear, however it is believed to become their main base. This is shown by the fact their children Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, have already been enrolled into a school in Britain.
The family are believed to be renting a private, non-royal home outside of London. The location has not been disclosed for security reasons.
They have not sold their Montecito mansion, with reports suggesting they have no plans to do this.
Harry has only been seen once seen moving back to Britain. This was last Friday when he was pictured visiting Tower Bridge Studios in London, with pictures showing him signing the wall after his visit to the film and podcast studios.
Andy Burnham plotting new holiday tax raid – £3k per family
The Labour Government could tax families thousands.
Andy Burnham could tax families thousands for holidays (Image: Getty)
The Labour Government is considering plans for a tax raid on holiday cottages. John Healey is considering taxing holiday lets as second homes rather than as businesses in his maiden Autumn Budget on October 28.
It will add thousands of pounds to the cost of running them, with Alistair Handyside, chairman of the Professional Association of Self-Caterers, saying it could add between £1,000 and £3,000.
It could also have a knock-on effect on businesses around holiday lets, such as local pubs, restaurants, independent shops, and other tourism-related companies. This could mean Brits see increased prices or limited availability.
Richard Fuller, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said: “Labour has launched a £9bn business rates raid, compounding the damage done by its jobs tax and employer red tape.
John Healey will give his Autumn Budget on October 28 (Image: Getty)
“Now it is looking for ways to pull more and more people into scope for its crippling taxes, including with a holiday cottage tax. Labour should focus less on squeezing taxpayers dry and more on cutting the welfare bill so we can cut taxes and grow our economy.”
James Murray, a junior Treasury minister, confirmed in a written parliamentary answer that his department was reviewing “the tax treatment of short-term lets, such as self-catering accommodation”.
He said “concerns have been raised” about second-home owners using small business rates relief to manage tax liabilities. The shake-up could mean that all self-catered accommodation is subject to council tax rather than business rates.
Alistair Handyside, chairman of the Professional Association of Self-Caterers, said: “The average self-catering business owns 1.2 properties and it is usually a second income, often run by working mothers or retired people, who have already been hit by 25 Government interventions in the past four years.
“The self-catering sector is already declining, and a lot of people will decide it’s just not worth it any more. I can tell you that the Government already takes more money out of my business every year than my wife and I do.
“What the Government doesn’t realise is that holiday lets provide the bed space for people visiting areas that don’t have the hotel spaces that London and big cities have.
“If the bed spaces decline, so does the local economy, because pubs, restaurants, butchers, all sorts of businesses only stay in profit because of the annual influx of tourists.
“So I would just say to the Government, be careful what you wish for.”
A Treasury spokesman said: “The Chancellor is fully focused on his priorities, to give families and businesses a bit of breathing space, back British jobs, and drive growth in every postcode, underpinned by a commitment to meet the fiscal rules.
“As has always been the case, decisions on tax are a matter for the Chancellor to set out at fiscal events, rather than routinely commenting on rumour, speculation or proposals.”