Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s First Message After UK Return Takes an Unexpected Turn
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s First Message After UK Return Takes an Unexpected Turn
Frank Yemi Thu, August 27, 2026 at 4:30 PM UTC
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle released their first statement since returning to the UK. (Image credit: James Whatling / MEGA)
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gave their first public statement after returning to the United Kingdom, it was not about their move, the royal family or their plans for life in Britain, but rather concerned a multibillion-dollar settlement between Meta and child safety online.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a statement on Thursday via their official website having arrived in Britain a day before, with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
“The historic trial against Meta over claims that its products endanger children has resulted in a settlement in which they will pay up to $17.1 billion. The settlement requires Meta to pay financial penalties for violating federal child privacy and states’ consumer protection laws” the statement reads.
They officially return to the UK, landing at Birmingham Airport on Wednesday, marking the end of their California dream, which they have lived for the last six years.
The couple stated that the agreement would involve Meta paying financial fines in connection with federal child privacy laws and state consumer protection laws.
They also took issue with the company for choosing to settle the case instead of letting the trial proceed, writing, “By choosing to settle, the company paid to avoid yet another trial outcome that would force it into accountability.”
The statement also claims that Meta is expected to earn that equivalent of the settlement in about 30 days.
Meta has denied any wrongdoing and the settlement concludes a significant federal trial in which the states made the claim that the company had designed its platforms to encourage excessive use by young people and had not properly protected children’s data.
As part of the agreement, Meta is going to make a number of changes which will affect users who are under 18.
These changes involve placing limits on the daily use of Facebook and Instagram, restricting access during the night, reducing the number of notifications during school hours and introducing further age-verification requirements.
Certain features, such as some beauty filters and the visible ‘like’ counts, will also be restricted for younger users.
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Although Harry and Meghan said that the changes showed progress, they maintained that technology companies still had further work to carry out in order to protect children online.
Their statement also mentioned parents, survivors and advocates who have been campaigning for changes to social media platforms.
The message’s subject was a surprise since it followed by less than 24 hours the Sussex family’s return to Britain, a country where speculation has focused on their living situations, the schooling of their children and Harry’s relationship with King Charles III.
The couple are expected to continue to lead private lives and will not be returning as active members of the royal family.
They retired from their senior royal duties in 2020 before moving to North America, where they eventually settled in Montecito, California.
The family are expected to spend an extended time in Britain while their children go to school there, and Harry and Meghan are also expected to keep their home in California.
In recent years the Sussexes have made online safety a regular feature of their public activities.
Among their initiatives has been The Parents’ Network, an organisation that provides support for families who have been affected by harmful online experiences, and the Lost Screen Memorial, a display which was revealed in New York in 2025 and consisted of photographs of children whose families claimed to have suffered online harm.
In their most recent statement, they said that they were carrying on their work while leaving unanswered the question of their return to Britain.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
