Donald Trump has shared his candid reaction to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to the United Kingdom after the couple spent six years living in the United States. The president said he was “happy” about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s departure and admitted he had never been a fan of the couple.
News broke on August 19 that Harry and Meghan would be returning to the U.K. with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, after years of living in California. The move immediately drew attention given the couple’s complicated relationship with the British royal family.
© Getty ImagesHarry and Meghan arrived in the U.K. on August 26 with their children and are expected to remain non-working members of the royal family.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office at the White House on September 2, Trump was asked how he felt about the Sussexes leaving the United States. “I’m happy about it,” Trump said. “I was not a fan.”
The president then reflected on his relationship with senior members of the British royal family, including the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III, whom he first knew when Charles was still Prince of Wales. “I had a very good relationship with the Queen. Really good. I got to know her very well,” Trump said.
© Getty ImagesHe also spoke warmly about Charles, saying he had known the monarch for many years. “A really good relationship with King Charles. I knew him as Prince Charles and King Charles. I’ve known him for a long time. He’s a great, great guy,” Trump said.
When the conversation turned back to Harry and Meghan, however, Trump’s comments were far less complimentary. “I thought they treated the royal family with great disrespect. I didn’t like it,” he said.
Donald Trump Criticizes Meghan Markle’s Behavior Toward the Royals
Trump went on to single out Meghan, criticizing what he viewed as disrespectful behavior toward Queen Elizabeth and King Charles. “I didn’t like the way she acted,” Trump said. “I thought she was terribly disrespectful to the Queen, to King Charles.”
© WireImageThe 80-year-old president also said that if the decision had been his, he would not have welcomed the Sussexes back into Britain. “I wouldn’t have taken them back,” Trump said. “If I were in the royal family, I would not have taken him back.”
© AFP via Getty ImagesHarry and Meghan stepped away from their roles as senior working royals in 2020 and eventually settled in Montecito, California, where they raised Archie and Lilibet.
Their relationship with the royal family became increasingly strained in the years that followed, particularly after the couple publicly discussed their experiences within the monarchy.
Their move back across the Atlantic does not signal a return to royal duties. Harry and Meghan are expected to remain non-working royals while establishing a private residence in Britain.
Donald Trump Has Long Admired the British Royal Family
Trump has repeatedly spoken about his admiration for the British monarchy, a fascination that dates back to his childhood. His mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, was born in Scotland and was reportedly deeply interested in the royal family. Trump has previously recalled watching Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation on television when he was a child.
Over the years, he frequently praised the late Queen, whom he met on multiple occasions during his presidency. Trump has also shared stories about his mother’s interest in King Charles when he was the young Prince of Wales.
© Getty ImagesDuring Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to the White House in April 2026, Trump recalled his mother watching royal events on television and taking particular notice of Charles.
Trump’s own relationship with the monarchy has included several high-profile meetings. In 2019, during his first presidency, he traveled to the United Kingdom for a state visit hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.
He returned to Britain for another state visit from September 16 to 18, 2025, this time hosted by King Charles III.
Trump’s admiration for the monarchy does not extend to every member of the royal family. While Harry and Meghan begin a new chapter in Britain, the president appears more than satisfied to see their six-year stay in the United States come to an end.
