Meghan Markle won’t be joining husband Prince Harry when he makes his return to the UK next week.

The Duke of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 will be in London on May 8 to attend an Invictus Games anniversary service alone, before rejoining his wife for a visit to Nigeria later in the month. While no official reason for Meghan not attending the service has been given speculation has been rife over the motives behind the move.

The Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 hasn’t been to the UK since September 2022 for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. Now a Royal Expert has noted that Meghan’s reasons for staying away could be as simple as concerns over child care and her safety.

Meghan could have several reasons why she wants to avoid the UK

Speaking on Newsweek’s Royal Report podcast, Royal Correspondent Jack Royston explained his views on why Meghan would not come to the UK, but will be taking part in the Nigerian trip. He said: “The centrepiece of this visit is a service of Thanksgiving for Invictus at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Now the last time Meghan went there, Meghan and Harry were booed by royalists. That was during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. There were cheers as well, but there were certainly boos, and that was during a similar service of Thanksgiving.”

Jack then noted that Meghan is likely to receive a much friendlier welcome for the trip to Nigeria – despite ignoring warnings over their safety. He continued: “By contrast, Meghan will obviously get a very positive welcome in Nigeria, so, she may simply be choosing guaranteed good PR over the possibility of another moment of hubris at the hands of monarchists who don’t really like her very much.”

He also added that Meghan could simply be avoiding the UK because of the negative memories she has of her time there adding that it “could genuinely be as simple as the fact that Britain probably holds some pretty difficult memories for her.” He then stressed the difficulties she faces as a parent when opting to go on any trips away from home noting that “on a more emotional front, going away for long periods of time is difficult as a parent, because you have to leave your kids behind.”

Jack also raised the security concerns Harry and Meghan face over their children adding that “it’s not impossible, I suppose, that they could take Archie and Lilibet with them, but they may not want to… Harry and Meghan don’t have guaranteed police protection in Britain anymore, so they may simply feel that the country isn’t safe for the whole family.”