Meghan Markle is returning to the US just days after King Charles issued a clarification on their royal status, fueling friction as reconciliation hopes had been on the rise. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had only moved back to the UK at the end of August as they had plans for Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to get education in Britain. Moreover, they had not made any claims of returning to their royal roles. In fact, a friend of Prince Harry had said that the Duke had no intention of returning to his senior royal role, but looked forward to his children having a relationship with his father.

The couple's spokesperson had said that this would not be a permanent move but rather an extensive one. However, Meghan is returning to the US already for work, according to royal expert Alison Boshoff. Although the timing of the travel comes at an interesting juncture, she is going back during the half-term and holidays. Half term is five weeks so she is just dipping in and dipping out again, she told NewsNation.

In five weeks, she'll be back in Montecito for a week. Then she'll come back, do another five weeks, another five weeks in her Cotswolds residence, and then back to Montecito for Christmas. The trip comes on the heels of a letter issued by the Lord Chamberlain, at the behest of King Charles, where it was stressed that Harry and Meghan remain private citizens and do not represent the royal firm.

A spokesperson for the Sussexes said that the couple were surprised by the letter, which has added a new layer of complexity to their ongoing dynamic with the British royal family. Observers continue to closely monitor the movements of the Duke and Duchess as they balance their personal and professional commitments across continents.