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Six years after stepping down from their royal duties and taking a “freedom flight” to the U.S., Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to the country the duke said they were “forced” to flee.

Following their surprising announcement, an expert is weighing in on why the Sussexes are returning to the U.K. after their American dream didn’t work out.

Kayley Cornelius is a celebrity PR specialist and brand strategist. She specializes in crisis PR, traditional PR, celebrity branding, and brand reputation, advising on reputation management and public perception. Cornelius’ commentary and analysis on celebrity branding, reality TV stars, and influencers have been featured in the New York Post, Elle, the BBC, and more.

Speaking on behalf of CafeCasino, Cornelius told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “When Harry and Meghan initially set off for America, they were already faced with the big hurdle of taking the global spotlight that surrounded them at the time, and turning it into a sustained career. When they first arrived in the States, they had enormous global interest. They were two of the most recognizable people in the world, and there was huge curiosity about what they would do next.

“That gave them an incredible platform, but maintaining that level of interest is a completely different challenge. I think the biggest reason their American dream failed is that Harry and Meghan’s biggest commercial asset has always been their own story, and there is a limit to how many times you can tell it. A lot of the original attention around the pair was driven by their royal status and the decision to leave the royal family.”

Cornelius continued, “Once that story had been told through interviews, documentaries, Harry’s memoir, and countless media appearances, there was inevitably going to be less novelty around it. The challenge for them has been turning that initial fascination into a sustainable brand that can exist independently outside of their royal background.

“While some projects have certainly generated headlines, the overall momentum has not matched the huge expectations surrounding their move to Hollywood. I think that is where the American dream ultimately fell short. It is not that Harry and Meghan suddenly became irrelevant, far from it, but the level of commercial interest they enjoyed initially was very difficult to sustain.”

Cornelius also talked about how the Sussexes’ return to Britain could becould be very “smart” and strategic for them, explaining, “This could actually be a smart move reputationally and commercially. Their royal connection is still their biggest point of difference. In America, they are competing with thousands of celebrities and influencers for attention. In Britain, they have a unique position because Harry is still a member of the royal family.

“The irony is that the very thing they appeared to be moving away from may actually be the thing that gives them their strongest commercial and media value. Returning to the U.K. also gives them a completely new narrative. Rather than constantly being associated with the fallout from Megxit or their disagreements with the royal family, they can now start to potentially reposition themselves around family, reconciliation, and Harry’s charitable work, giving them a much-needed image shift to help get the public back onside with them, given they play their cards right.”

The expert concluded, “We’ve already seen signs of that shift. During Harry’s last visit to the U.K., he appeared on Joe Marler’s podcast, which is possibly some of the most positive press appearances he’s had in many years, and probably showed him he has something he can build upon back home. Harry’s relationship with his father appears to be thawing, and the couple recently spent private time with King Charles, which makes the move feel much more personal and long-term than simply a business decision.”

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