Meghan Markle is once again at the center of tensions with her husband after sharing a stream of intimate family footage online – with sources telling RadarOnline.com the couple is now “at war all over again” over what Prince Harry sees as her “same old defiance” over the issue of protecting their children’s privacy.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, recently posted a series of Instagram stories showing her children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, swimming, visiting a zoo and spending time outdoors in California.
Markle’s Social Media Posts Spark Royal Privacy Debate
Her clips, filmed in Palm Desert and set to music, included visible shots of the children’s hair, faces and profiles, as well as moments featuring Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland.
While fans praised the posts as warm and joyful, insiders said they reopened a long-running disagreement behind the scenes.
Meghan and Prince Harry, 41, stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the U.S., repeatedly citing concerns about media intrusion and the safety of their future family.
Since then, Harry has been vocal about the dangers of social media for children, most recently welcoming Australia’s ban on under-16s using certain platforms.
Yet Meghan has increasingly shared curated glimpses of their children as she rebuilds her public profile and launches ventures linked to her lifestyle brand, As Ever.
Renewed Tensions With Prince Harry
One source told us: “This issue has reignited tensions that Harry thought they had already worked through. From his point of view, it feels like they’re right back in conflict mode because Meghan continues to move forward exactly as she always has.
“Harry sees it as a familiar pattern of pushing boundaries and testing limits, particularly around how much of their children’s lives are shared. For him, it isn’t just about a few posts, it’s about a deeper disagreement over privacy that he feels keeps resurfacing.”
The insider added Harry believes even partial or fleeting images undermine the couple’s long-standing stance over their cries for privacy.
In the latest posts, Meghan shared footage of Lilibet splashing in a pool and feeding animals at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, while Archie was seen offering leaves to a critically endangered black rhino.
Another clip showed Markle and Harry dancing barefoot in a field, laughing and holding each other, alongside chalk drawings and children’s notes reading: “Yay! You did it!”
The images were accompanied by the song Carefree Days.
Archewell Philanthropies and the Risks of Online Exposure
A second source said: “Meghan genuinely views these posts as harmless and carefully managed snapshots of family life. In her mind, she’s reclaiming the narrative by sharing moments selectively and on her own platform, rather than allowing tabloids or paparazzi to dictate what’s seen.
“Harry, however, has a much more cautious outlook. He’s deeply uneasy about the idea that once their children’s faces start appearing online, even in fleeting or partial ways, there’s no real way to undo it or control how far that exposure might spread.”
The disagreement follows revelations from earlier this month that the couple is planning a more visible public role for Archie and Lilibet through their renamed charitable organization, Archewell Philanthropies.
An old friend of Harry’s previously expressed shock at the move, questioning whether it aligned with his insistence that his children grow up without pressure or expectation.
Differing Mindsets on Visibility and Media Ownership
Sources said the tension has been simmering since last fall, when Meghan began posting more frequent family content.
One insider said: “Harry is increasingly uneasy about how their children are being presented to the outside world. He’s uncomfortable with the gradual shift toward more visibility and isn’t at ease with the way those moments are being shared online.
“From his perspective, the social media displays cut directly against the principles he’s been so vocal about, particularly his campaigning around protecting children from exposure and the risks of online platforms.”
Meghan, however, is said to feel emboldened.
Another source added: “Meghan feels strongly that she’s entitled to decide how and when her life is shown, especially after years of feeling that others controlled her image.
“She sees sharing on her own terms as a form of agency. That difference in mindset is where the tension really lies – Harry’s instinct is to pull back and limit exposure, while Meghan’s is to take ownership and actively shape what the public sees.”
Tearful Prince Harry claims Meghan Markle’s life was made ‘an absolute misery’ in High Court case
The Duke of Sussex made a third appearance at the High Court to give evidence in his legal case against Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL)
The Duke of Sussex was visibly emotional as he as he concluded his evidence at the High Court in his trial against the publisher of the Daily Mail, saying “they have made my wife’s life an absolute misery”.
The Duke is part of a group of high-profile claimants, which include Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, politician Sir Simon Hughes, and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley. They are bringing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over allegations of unlawful information gathering.
This includes claims that information for articles was obtained by carrying out or commissioning unlawful activities such as phone tapping and “blagging” private records. ANL has strongly denied wrongdoing and is defending the claims.
Prince Harry, 41, spent around two-and-a-half hours answering questions from ANL’s barrister on Wednesday, before he was asked how the proceedings had made him feel by his barrister David Sherborne.
The Duke, who was dressed in a blue suit and a striped tie, said: “It’s fundamentally wrong to put us through this again when all we wanted was an apology and accountability. It’s a horrible experience.”
Sounding emotional and appearing to be on the verge of tears, he continued: “They continue to come after me, they have made my wife’s life an absolute misery my Lord.”
Leaving the courtroom, he continued to appear upset, sniffling as he exited through the door.
Harry said the case against ANL felt like a “recurring traumatic experience” and a “repeat of the past”, adding: “I have never believed that my life is open season to be commercialised by these people.”
He later added that the “claim that I don’t have any rights to any privacy is disgusting”.
© Getty ImagesIn his witness statement for the trial, Harry also said he has always had an “uneasy relationship” with the press, adding: “However, as a member of the institution the policy was to ‘never complain, never explain’.
The Duke also attended court on Monday and the start of proceedings on Tuesday, but was seen leaving the Royal Courts of Justice in London during the lunch break.
He was scheduled to give evidence on Thursday, but opening submissions for the claimants and ANL concluded earlier than expected on Tuesday.
A source close to the Duke of Sussex’s claim said ahead of his appearance in the witness box: “ANL, publishers of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, and their legal team, have had months to inform the court that their opening argument would last less than two hours, instead, they have had to resort to game playing and dirty tricks – consistent with the way they have treated not just the Duke but all of the victims in this case.”
The source continued: “They think that by pulling the schedule forward 24 hours they are giving Prince Harry less time to prepare – he’s been preparing for this moment for the last three years. Safe to say, he’s ready.”
The trial is due to conclude in March, with a judgment due in writing at a later date.
Meanwhile, Harry’s father, King Charles, was back in London to attend a reception in support of Indonesian conservation efforts at Lancaster House, next door to his Clarence House residence, on Wednesday morning. The monarch was joined by the president of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto, with the pair due to have an audience together afterwards at nearby St James’s Palace.
© GettyCharles was away in Scotland at the start of the week as his youngest son flew in from California for the start of the trial. Harry is not expected to see his father during his UK visit, with the King following the general principle that a sovereign should steer clear of any active legal proceedings.
Harry denies having ‘leaky’ social circles
Barristers for ANL claimed in written submissions for the trial that the celebrities bringing legal action had “leaky” social circles, and that information also came from sources including spokespeople and previous reporting.
Responding to this claim, Harry said: “My social circles were not leaky, I want to make that absolutely clear.”
He added that if he became suspicious of someone: “I would have to cut contact with this person”.
Emotive witness statement
The Duke told how he felt like his “every move, thought or feeling was being tracked and monitored” and how the alleged actions created “distrust and suspicion” and “driv(ing) me paranoid beyond belief, isolating me” in extracts of his witness statement provided on the first day of the trial on Monday.
© Getty ImagesHarry was “caused great distress by each and every episode of UIG (unlawful information gathering) against him by Associated or on its behalf, and the fruits of that UIG in the 14 unlawful articles of which he complains”, his barrister David Sherborne said in written submissions.
© GettyThe barrister said that the 14 articles involved in Harry’s claim, written between 2001 and 2013 “focus primarily and in a highly intrusive and damaging way, on the relationships which he formed, or rather tried to form, during those years prior to meeting his now wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex”.
ANL’s response
In court on Tuesday, Antony White KC, for ANL, said the claims against the company were “threadbare” and had been brought too late.
He continued that its journalists provide a “compelling account of a pattern of legitimate sourcing” of the more than 50 articles that are alleged to be the products of unlawful information gathering.
In written submissions, Mr White said the publisher “strongly denies” that there was any unlawful information gathering, including voicemail interception, directed at the Duke.
He continued that the articles “were sourced entirely legitimately from information variously provided by contacts of the journalists responsible, including individuals in the Duke of Sussex’s social circle, press officers and publicists, freelance journalists, photographers and prior reports”.
Additional reporting by PA.
Meghan Markle has one condition for returning to the UK with Prince Harry: experts
Prince Harry reportedly hopes the Duchess of Sussex will join him for the Invictus Games countdown event in Birmingham this July
There’s only one way Meghan Markle will ever set foot in the U.K. again, royal experts told Fox News Digital.
Prince Harry, who is expected to be in Birmingham, England, for the one-year-to-go celebrations marking the Invictus Games kickoff this summer, hopes to have the Duchess of Sussex by his side, People magazine reported.
No decision has been made on whether the mother of two will travel to the U.K. in July. A spokesperson for Archewell told Fox News Digital, “These reports are entirely speculative.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave after a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on June 3, 2022. There is talk that the Duchess of Sussex could return to the U.K. in July to support events for Prince Harry’s Invictus Games. (Matt Dunham – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Kinsey Schofield, host of YouTube’s “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered,” told Fox News Digital that the “Suits” alum will only return to the U.K. if she’s assured of receiving automatic armed security. Prince Harry has previously said he doesn’t feel safe bringing his wife and their two children — Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4 — without sufficient protection.
“If Meghan were to travel to the U.K. under the current RAVEC protocol — which requires 30 days’ notice to assess threat levels — I am confident that both Harry and Meghan would receive armed security for an Invictus appearance,” Schofield said.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, speaks onstage during the “Keynote: Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen” during the SXSW 2024 Conference and Festivals on March 8, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Mat Hayward/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
“However, the recent surge of headlines suggesting that Meghan will only return if RAVEC reverses its original ruling and grants automatic security appears to be an attempt to influence the committee’s latest threat assessment,” she added.
“While Prince Harry receives armed protection during most of his U.K. visits, the issue for the couple is the lack of automatic armed security,” Schofield claimed. “They object to having to request protection on a case-by-case basis. This outcome was clearly outlined as a consequence when they chose to step back from their roles as working members of the royal family.”
The decision to deny Harry full-time armed protection while in the U.K. could soon be reversed.
Prince Harry is seen at the Afro Women and Power Forum at the Municipal Theater of Calid on Aug. 18, 2024, in Cali, Colombia. (Edwin Rodriguez Pipicano/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“It’s now a formality. Sources at the Home Office have indicated that security is now nailed on for Harry,” one insider previously told the Mail on Sunday. Sources also told People magazine that “positive” considerations were being made by the governing body regarding the possible reversal.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California. (Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images)
A review is currently underway.
“I feel talks are underway to open the doors for Harry and Meghan to return to Britain as part of King Charles’ legacy to unite the family while he has the power and strength to do so,” royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital.
King Charles III arrives at Clarence House on Sept. 10, 2025, in London. The monarch had a private tea with his son, Prince Harry. (Belinda Jiao/Getty Images)
“Meghan will want many assurances, especially about how she is treated and how she can bring her own individuality with her,” he said. “Security is one of the biggest issues. I see encouraging signs that the heated moments of the past have cooled. I also believe Harry has asked King Charles to open the Invictus Games.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a training session for competitors in the Invictus Games in Whistler, Canada on Feb. 14, 2024. (James Whatling for Fox News Digital)
Meghan, 44, typically accompanies her husband to support his Paralympic-style games and has attended previous countdown events. The couple also attended the one-year-to-go celebration in 2022.
People reported that Harry wants increased taxpayer-backed security for his family, which they lost after their royal exit.
Harry has been estranged from his family since he and Meghan stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California. They cited intense media intrusion and a lack of palace support as reasons for their departure.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex detailed their struggles with royal life in the Netflix docuseries “Harry & Meghan,” which became available for streaming in late 2022. (Netflix)
Since settling in Montecito, California, the couple has aired their grievances in interviews and documentaries. Harry’s 2023 memoir, “Spare,” which revealed intimate details about the House of Windsor, further strained his relationship with the royals.
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duchess of Sussex stepped out together on June 14, 2018. (AP)
Sources close to Harry told People magazine that the king wouldn’t respond to his phone calls or letters. Royal experts previously told Fox News Digital that Harry and his older brother Prince William were not on speaking terms. Harry, 41, told the BBC in May that he is ready for reconciliation.
While Charles may welcome a reunion, Schofield claimed Meghan can expect a cold reception from other members of the royal family.
Meghan Markle attends Trooping The Colour on June 9, 2018, in London. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
“I don’t think we would see the working royals even acknowledge their presence,” she said. “The Sussexes’ credibility has been bruised over the last few years, and the royals want to keep their distance…. She felt rejected by Harry’s family and country and wants to focus on her U.S. aspirations.”
This image provided by Harpo Productions shows Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, in conversation with Oprah Winfrey, circa 2021. (Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions via AP)
“Meghan is typically there to support Harry’s countdown to Invictus, but I have a hard time believing she will show up this time,” said Schofield. “I don’t believe Meghan will travel to the U.K. for this event. I don’t believe she will be there.”
British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital it’s unlikely many Britons will give the American duchess a warm welcome back.
Prince Harry departs after attending a hearing regarding his security at the Royal Courts of Justice on April 8, 2025, in London. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
“It’s a risky move,” Fordwich said. “She will be viewed as divisive at best. She is smart and knows she will be entering a frightfully hostile environment…. The royals are also beyond wary.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend an Anzac Day service at Westminster Abbey on April 25, 2018, in London. (Eddie Mulholland – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
“Prince William blames Meghan Markle for escalating their private tensions into a highly public media circus,” Fordwich claimed. “He has no tolerance for reconciliation.”
“The public could be angry and annoyed at Meghan for her treatment of the royal family,” British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital.
According to reports, Prince Harry wants to bring his family to his home country. A review regarding his security is currently underway. (Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images)
“She will not receive a good reception. Meghan and Harry’s [past] behavior is not water under the bridge. If Meghan were to travel to the U.K., I believe the trip would be a purposeful short trip.”
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex during the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 19, 2022, in London. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Schofield said Meghan’s biggest obstacle remains winning over the British public.
“Meghan knows she’s not very popular in the U.K.,” Schofield claimed. “She was audibly booed at one of the last times she visited. She is trying to avoid public humiliation more than anything.”
Meghan Markle is raising her two young children in California, her home state. (Heathcliff O’Malley – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
“Meghan’s biggest obstacle would be winning over the public unless hell freezes over and working members of the royal family show up to support Harry. In that case, her biggest obstacle would be the humbling curtsy that would be required of her.”
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the Commonwealth Day Service on March 9, 2020, in London. (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Fordwich agreed.
“I’m rather skeptical Meghan will be there,” she said. “The last time Meghan was in the U.K., she had to endure being booed as she descended the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Her ratings haven’t improved since then. In fact, she’s further plummeted in the polls. Being booed again would be frightfully damaging to her brand with huge reputational risks.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex applaud during the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games Düsseldorf at Merkur Spiel-Arena on Sept. 16, 2023, in Germany. (Joshua Sammer/Getty Images)
Meghan was last in the U.K. for the funeral events of Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022. Archie and Lilibet have only been back to Harry’s home country once since the couple left for the late queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June of that year. They are being raised in California.
Meghan Markle was by Prince Harry’s side when Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Harry’s ongoing struggle to reinstate his security has contributed to his estrangement from his father, according to People. Harry believes the monarch could influence the decision. However, Buckingham Palace has repeatedly denied that Charles, 77, has the power to reinstate his security.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends an Invictus Games Friends and Family reception on April 15, 2022, in The Hague, Netherlands. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
The Duke of Sussex will be in London on Jan. 19 for his ongoing court battle with Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. Meghan is not expected to join him during the trial.
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