Sad reason Prince Harry refuses to bring Meghan Markle back to UK

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the UK in 2020, it was clear they wanted to live more of a private life outside of the royal family.

Yet, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have now confirmed they won't return to the UK in the future, as Harry made it clear they will stay in California for the foreseeable.

Speaking in the ITV documentary, Tabloids On Trial, Harry detailed his battle with the tabloid press, including his case against The Mirror Group Newspapers for phone hacking and their coverage of his wife, Meghan.

Prince Harry opens up in a new ITV documentary. (ITV)

In the documentary, Harry explained how the media frenzy has given him 'genuine concerns' meaning he 'won't bring his wife back to this country'.

He said: "All it takes is for one lone actor who reads this stuff to act on what they've read.

"And whether it's a knife or acid, these are things that are genuine concerns for me. It's one of the reasons why I won't bring my wife back to this country."

This isn't the first time that Harry has spoken openly about safety concerns for his wife, but also for himself and his children.

Earlier this year, the Duke took a legal case to the High Court against the UK Home Office after they made a decision in 2020 that he should receive a different degree of taxpayer-funded protection after he and wife stepped back from life as working royals. Whilst Harry lost the case earlier this year, he's made it clear he intends to appeal and continue the legal fight.

Harry and Meghan live in California, and Harry has made it clear they won't return to the UK. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P)

At a previous hearing, in a written statement Harry said: "It was with great sadness for both of us that my wife and I felt forced to step back from this role and leave the country in 2020. The UK is my home.

"The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home, as much as where they live at the moment in the United States.

"That cannot happen if it's not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil. I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm's way too."

Also in the documentary, Harry revealed that his fight against tabloid newspapers had caused a 'rift' between him and his family.

In the feature length documentary, host Becca Barry asked him: "To what extent do you think your determination to fight the tabloids destroyed your relationship with your family?"

The couple left the Uk in 2020. (KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty Images)

Harry replied: "It is certainly a central piece to it.

"It is a hard question to answer because anything I say about my family results in a torrent of abuse from the press.

"I have made it very clear that this is something that needs to be done.

"It would be nice if we did it as a family, I believe from a service standpoint and when you are in a public role these are the things we should be doing for the greater good.

"I am doing this for my reasons."

He added: "For me, the mission continues. But, it has ... caused part of a rift."