Donald Trump has said that he is ‘happy’ Harry and Meghan have left the US for the UK and declared that he is ‘not a fan’.
The president believes the couple had treated the monarchy with ‘great disrespect’ and if he were in the royal family he ‘would not have taken them back’.
The family is said to be settling in the UK for an ‘extended period’ of time amid speculation as to how long they will stay and where they will live, with the Cotswolds being suggested as the most likely destination.
Asked in the White House about his reaction to the departure from the US of Harry and Meghan, Mr Trump said: ‘I’m happy about it. I was not a fan.’
He added: ‘I had a very good relationship with the Queen. Really good. I got to know her very well. 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. And I thought they treated the royal family with great disrespect. I didn’t like it.
‘I didn’t like the way she acted. I thought she was terribly disrespectful to the Queen, to King Charles. I wouldn’t have taken them back. If I were in the royal family I would not have taken him back.’
Harry and Meghan, who are remaining as non-working royals, quit the monarchy six years ago, relocating to the US from where they criticised members of the royal family and the institution.
The Sussexes’ dramatic U-turn was revealed last week, but the pair have yet to speak publicly about their plans.
Many questions remain unanswered, including whether taxpayers will foot the bill for their security.
Two sources ‘close to the Sussexes’ told the paper that the couple did not expect their move to be ‘for ever’.
One is quoted saying: ‘It’ll be an extended period of time — it could be six months, it could be a year, it could be more — I don’t think even they know yet.’
They added: ‘They might suddenly go: “Why don’t we try Canada for a while? Why don’t we try Australia?”‘
Such a rapid departure from the UK would be surprising, after Harry spent recent years repeatedly saying how much he misses his home country.
The move will also make it easier for the duke to visit his father King Charles and introduce his family to his other relatives – though any hopes for a rapprochement between him and his brother William may be premature.
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