Meghan Markle Accused Of Attempting To Exploit The 'Victim/Survivor Narrative' With Speculated UK Return

Meghan Markle has yet to address the rumors of her possible return to the UK, but that hasn't stopped the speculations from running wild!

A British columnist recently weighed in on the Duchess of Sussex's alleged interest in making a comeback for the upcoming Invictus Games, theorizing the move stemmed from exploitative reasons.

Meghan Markle became a member of the British Royal Family when she tied the knot to Prince Harry in 2018. They stepped down from their royal duties in 2020 and relocated to Montecito, where they live with their two children.

British columnist Sarah Vine did not hold back when sharing her theories about why Meghan would be interested in returning to the UK after tearing the Royal Family apart. It is no secret that she poured out her grievances about the royals after relocating to America.

It is not a stretch to say that Meghan rebuilt her brand as someone treated poorly within the royal circles, only to regain her footing as an entrepreneur in the US. Vine speculated that Meghan had lost the "victim" momentum she had been using, hence her interest in returning to the UK.

"She needs to remind the world of who her in-laws are, to stay relevant and, more importantly, to stay commercial," Vine argued in her piece for The Daily Mail, adding:

"Because let's be clear: without her royal connections and victim/survivor narrative, The Duchess is just another middle-aged minor actress with a lifestyle brand to flog."

Vine theorized that Meghan had milked her connections in the US for all they were worth and would try to regain the public's attention with her return to the UK. The columnist could picture her staging performances for the paparazzi to sell her victim story.

"I can just picture it now, can't you? The 'brave' Duchess comforting grateful veterans. Selflessly setting aside her own trauma to help soothe theirs," Vine wrote, noting that Meghan wouldn't miss the opportunity to promote her As Ever brand by gifting the veterans some of her products.

Vine speculated that Meghan and Harry would put on a show, revisiting their old hangouts to give the media something to talk about or even set up a meeting with King Charles. The columnist believed the monarch would likely indulge Meghan's whims for a chance to see his grandchildren.

Vine added that Meghan needs to return to the UK for the publicity, theorizing that her latest product might be a part of her comeback strategy. She released a new leather bookmark from her As Ever brand, reportedly handmade "by a small English company."

PEOPLE shared more on the bookmark, noting that Meghan kicked off 2026 with the limited-edition product, which she designed herself. It featured the words "Fell asleep here" stamped in gold in Meghan's signature handwriting.

The bookmark was priced at $18, measuring at 2.75 by 1.5 inches, and produced using sustainably sourced, vegetable-tanned leather. The product line-up appeared to have sold out 10 minutes after it launched on the As Ever website.

When speculations about Meghan's possible return to the UK surfaced, The Blast shared that sources claimed the Sussexes were interested in attending the one-year-to-go celebrations for the Invictus Games. However, their joint appearance had a condition.

Meghan would reportedly only join Harry in the UK if his request for the reinstatement of their complete taxpayer-backed security was granted. The couple lost the privilege of armed security after stepping down from their royal duties in 2020.

Royal expert Tom Sykes claimed a source told him Meghan would return to the UK with her kids if their security demands were met. On the other hand, a spokesperson for Harry allegedly claimed stories of Meghan's return were "pure speculation."

According to a previous report by The Blast, insiders claimed Harry was on the right track to getting his complete security detail reinstated. They noted that the royal and VIP executive committee (Ravec) had carried out a risk assessment of the Duke's situation.

Ravec, which is made up of the government's Home Office, the Metropolitan Police, and the royal household, reportedly discovered a criterion to grant Harry and his immediate family top-level security in the UK during their evaluation.

The Home Office was allegedly on board to get the security reinstated. Additionally, insiders claimed there was an established belief that in the absence of external interference, Harry would get armed guards and the other security benefits he enjoyed as a working royal.

Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's taxpayer-backed security be reinstated?