US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he is "happy" that Prince Harry and his family have left the US and returned to Britain.
"I'm happy about it. I wasn't a fan of them," Trump said in the Oval Office, commenting on Harry and Meghan Markle's recent decision to leave California after six years in the US.
The couple returned to Britain in late August. Harry and Meghan stepped back from official royal duties in 2020, when they moved to the United States. Trump said he did not like the way the couple had treated the British royal family.
"I think they treated the royal family very disrespectfully. I didn't like it," the US president said, citing his good relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth and King Charles, who is being treated for cancer.
Trump criticized Meghan Markle in particular. "I didn't like the way she behaved. I thought it was extremely disrespectful," he said.
After moving to the US, Harry and Meghan spoke publicly about their relationship with the royal family. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry accused the family of a lack of support, while Meghan said that during her pregnancy there had been concerns and discussions within the royal family about the color of their child's skin.
Prince William has denied accusations of racism towards the royal family. Harry has also said that intense media pressure and concerns for his family's safety were among the reasons he left Britain and moved to California.
Now back in Britain, Harry and Meghan are expected to continue as non-working members of the royal family. The couple plan to live for an extended period outside London with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who are expected to attend school in the UK.
It is not clear what changed the couple's decision to return, but Harry has previously said he wants his children to spend more time in Britain.
"If I were part of the royal family, I wouldn't have accepted them again," Trump added.