In the 24 hours following the huge news of the Sussex family’s return to the UK, the royal press was coming up with fun new ways to describe Prince William’s incandescent rage over the news. Some said William was furiously blindsided. Some said that the Reverse Sussexit was a “slap in the face” for Huevo in particular. Some said that Prince William and Kate are “tearing their hair out,” or I guess, ripping up wiglets and rage-yanking that sad little tuft. Well, we’ve got a new description, courtesy of Peter Hunt. William is “apoplectic.” Whew.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will face an ‘apoplectic’ William, low favourability among the British public and an uncertain place in the royal pecking order when they start their new life in Britain within days.

Royal insiders say that the Prince of Wales will be angry at the surprise move and could feel he is being forced towards a reconciliation with his brother. The King was taken totally by surprise about the announcement when he was told on Sunday, just three days in advance – while sources said that the terms of the Megxit deal under which the Sussexes are not ‘working royals’ will be unchanged. The Sussexes’ status will remain the same, with the couple not being offered a ‘half-in-half-out’ option when it comes to their roles. But many close to the royals fear that the couple are trying to create such an arrangement regarding their royal status.

Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said: ‘In the long term, the return of the Sussexes to the UK opens up the prospect of two rival courts, William’s and Harry’s. In the short term, Harry will be able to deepen his rapprochement with his father. His presence back home will make it harder for his brother to duck a reconciliation. The surprise return of Harry and Meghan is likely to have left William apoplectic.’

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told the Daily Mail: ‘It provokes a crisis for the monarchy because the monarchy’s responses are often poor when they don’t know what to expect. With this, you certainly don’t know what to expect. All sorts of things may happen. It is utterly ruthless if he did tell the King of his plans to move on Sunday.’

Mr Fitzwilliams added the decision was evidence the Sussexes were a ‘disastrous failure in the US’, after relocating to North America six years ago. And he suggested Harry feared how William would receive him and his family when, or should, William takes the throne.

‘This is actually an extremely serious situation,’ Mr Fitzwilliams said. ‘What they have done is very clearly chosen King Charles’s reign to do this knowing their options might be very limited when, and if, William becomes king. I strongly suspect that William would look very closely at their titles and possibly the titles of their children. William will see this as total proof they couldn’t be trusted for a single second.’

[From The Daily Mail]

I enjoy Peter Hunt’s commentary because he’s usually not one to barf out the palace’s talking points. But this is wrong: “the return of the Sussexes to the UK opens up the prospect of two rival courts…” The rival courts already exist, one in England and one in Montecito. It’s been that way for years. This is the first time the two competing royal courts will be in the same country since early 2020. I do agree with Hunt that William’s reaction has probably been apoplectic.

Fitzwilliams’ commentary is a hoot: “It provokes a crisis for the monarchy because the monarchy’s responses are often poor when they don’t know what to expect…” LMAO. A whole-ass royal commentator huffily announces that the monarchy is poorly managed, not built for crisis, and unable to navigate situations they can’t control. The entire British monarchy operates like Pete Hegseth is at the helm after a keg party.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, Cover Images.