Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may have returned to Britain surrounded by controversy, questions and a fresh wave of criticism, but friends close to the couple are pushing back against the idea that the mounting drama will eventually force them to pack up and retreat to their old California life.

According to a source quoted by the Daily Mail, those close to the Sussexes believe they are far more prepared for the turbulence surrounding their return than critics may realize, with the couple apparently determined to treat the latest problems as part of a much bigger long-term plan rather than as a reason to turn around and leave.

The list of complications has certainly grown quickly. Harry and Meghan have faced questions surrounding their security arrangements, the backlash from neighbors, renewed tensions with the Royal Family and the significance of King Charles making clear in a letter that the Sussexes are no longer working royals. At the same time, reports surrounding their children’s schooling have added another layer of scrutiny, while the continuing distance between Harry and his brother, Prince William, has kept the family’s private tensions firmly in the public eye.

For critics who expected all of that pressure to become too much, however, the message coming from inside the Sussex camp is very different.

The Daily Mail source said: “They are quite unfazed about it to be honest. They tried it, it didn’t work, but it’s early days of schooling for the kids and early in the term and they’ve now found another school. This is a long-term plan for them, they are in it for the long haul.”

Play

That comment paints a picture of a couple who does not believe that every setback is a reason to abandon their British plans, but as something they can adjust around while their children settle into a new chapter.

The reference to the children’s schooling is particularly significant because it suggests that Harry and Meghan’s decision to establish themselves in Britain is being viewed by those around them as something considerably more permanent than a short visit or temporary experiment. If one school arrangement does not work, the source indicates that the family can make another arrangement rather than abandoning the broader plan.

And that may be the biggest message coming from the Sussexes’ apparent response to the criticism: they are not treating the chaos as evidence that the move has failed.

The couple knew, according to their friends, that returning to Britain would inevitably bring intense attention, although the scale and duration of the drama may have been greater than expected. King Charles’ letter, the security dispute, the reaction from neighbors and the continuing frostiness with William and Kate have all created separate headlines, but Harry and Meghan appear determined not to allow any single controversy to dictate what happens next.

There is also a striking difference between how critics may interpret the turmoil and how the Sussexes’ allies appear to see it. From the outside, the constant headlines can make their return look like one obstacle after another; from inside their circle, the same events can apparently be viewed as problems that need to be managed rather than reasons to retreat.

That does not mean every issue has been resolved, nor does the source claim prove what Harry and Meghan ultimately intend to do. But it does challenge the idea that the couple will simply be embarrassed, pressured or pushed back across the Atlantic.

For now, the message from those close to them is remarkably blunt: Harry and Meghan have made their choice, they have encountered turbulence, and they are still moving forward.

The drama may be far from over, but if their friends are right, the Sussexes are not preparing to run from it.