Daily Express royal reporter Emily Wright published an opinion piece on October 21, 2026, arguing that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have finally admitted their move to California was a mistake. Her column points to Harry’s new GQ interview, where he says his children are enjoying British schools and “endless playdates” with family friends. Wright says Prince William does not need to say a word to win this round.
What Harry Told GQ
British GQ released an on-camera interview with Harry on October 20, 2026. It was recorded in late September in New York. Reporter Zach Baron asked Harry why he moved his family back to the UK.
Harry said the move was about “opportunities for the family.” He explained that putting Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, into a British school “has meant a lot to me.” He admitted he did not know how important it was to him until it happened.
“It’s been nice to be close to friends, family, friends of friends and their children as well, to be able to have endless playdates to really, like, help our kids settle in.” — Prince Harry, GQ
Harry also said the children are “loving” school and gaining “a whole different experience.” He made clear he was not criticizing American schools. He said having two different cultural experiences is important for children their age.
The Joss Stone Conversation That Started It
Wright’s column points to a specific detail from Harry’s interview. Harry mentioned a conversation with singer Joss Stone about the importance of “community,” British schooling, and raising children “surrounded by family.” The two met at the WellChild Awards in London in September 2025.
Joss Stone had recently moved back to Britain from the US with her family. She later told Hello! magazine that Harry asked how they were settling in. She said Harry talked about how wonderful British schools are and how important community is for children.
“He was saying how wonderful the schools are here and how important community is for children.” — Joss Stone, via Hello!
Wright calls this conversation the “ultimate irony.” Her argument is that Harry spent years away from Britain, only to return and praise the exact system he left behind.
Wright’s Core Argument
The Express column does not hold back. Wright writes that Harry and Meghan “have finally realised that swapping the ancient, deep-rooted institution of the British monarchy for the hollow, transactional world of Californian celebrity was a catastrophic mistake.”
She argues that California’s promises of freedom and enlightenment did not build a real childhood for Archie and Lilibet. In her view, “celebrity poolside encounters and sunshine do not make a childhood.”
Wright also says Harry is now asking for the very British upbringing he rejected. She writes that Archie and Lilibet “were effectively isolated from their ancestral heritage” and were “denied the sense of belonging, cousins and lifelong family friendships.”
“You can’t buy history, and you certainly can’t build a genuine support network out of Netflix executives, talent agents and Hollywood A-listers.” — Emily Wright, Daily Express
How William Reportedly Responds
Wright’s column argues that Prince William stayed steady while Harry’s American chapter unfolded. She writes that William focused on duty, stability, and raising his three children within the royal family and traditional British schooling.
Prince George, 13, has started at Eton. Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, are at Lambrook. William continues his royal duties as heir to the throne.
Tom Sykes, European Editor at Large of The Daily Beast, told Page Six that William will not answer publicly. Sykes said the two brothers have not spoken since 2022.
“Being lectured in public about reconciliation by the person who has caused the problem is exactly what William finds so hard to forgive. Putting the onus on him through the pages of a magazine is not how you repair a relationship.” — Tom Sykes, The Daily Beast
The Mirror published a report on October 21, 2026, quoting a source close to William. The source said there is “no scenario in the future” where William engages with Harry. The source pointed to William’s schedule that week: a state visit for the Sultan of Oman, the 60th anniversary of Aberfan, and planning for royal tours.
Harry’s Reconciliation Comments and the Denial
Harry also spoke about his relationship with William and King Charles in the GQ interview. He said family rifts are a “massively relatable issue.” He said “some people don’t want it to work out.”
“I want it to work out. Of course I do. With everything else that’s going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile. That’s the key point.” — Prince Harry, GQ
Harry’s spokesperson moved quickly to deny that the “some people” line was aimed at William. The spokesperson told Page Six the comment “was absolutely not intended as a swipe at his brother or any other member of his family.” It was “made in a general context.”
The School Switch and the Family’s New Life
The Sussex family returned to the UK on August 26, 2026, after six years in Montecito, California. Archie and Lilibet started at a British school within days of arriving. They were pulled out after two days because the commute raised security concerns. They are now enrolled at a different school closer to home.
The name and location of the school are being kept private for safety reasons. Meghan has been spotted at Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds. The family is believed to be living somewhere in that area.
Archie has already made his feelings about school clear. Harry told schoolchildren in Nottingham that Archie asked, “Can I go to a school that doesn’t do math?” Harry replied, “That doesn’t exist!” On Archie’s first day, his first class was math.
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What the Column Says About the Past Six Years
Wright’s piece recaps the timeline that led to this moment. Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in March 2020. They moved to California. They gave a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey in 2021. They released a Netflix docuseries in 2022. Harry published his memoir Spare in 2023.
The column argues that those years of public statements damaged the family beyond quick repair. Wright writes that William “doesn’t need to say a single word” to make his point. In her view, “by simply standing firm while the Sussexes’ American dream folded in on itself, William gets the undisputed last laugh.”
Also Read: Prince Harry Told to Stop Talking as 98 Percent of Brits Back Silence in New Poll
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