Why the royal family and Brits like me actually need to welcome Harry and Meghan back from America

The egos have landed.Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have touched down in the UK, 5,000 miles from the Montecito sun, to face a cooler British reception.And the rumor mill is at fever pitch.Will they set up their own court in the celebrity rural enclave of the Cotswolds? Is (long-resting) actress Meghan eyeing a return to the small screen? Will Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have a proper reunion with at least one of their grandfathers?Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.Yet no spin can save this.

The Megxit U-turn, no doubt rooted in fading US interest, represents a major loss of face for the couple — and comes on the back of flopped deals, unsold jam and relegation to Row 8 during a Knicks playoff game.As the wanderers return, it would be all too easy to join the pile-on — but here’s why I won’t.Bear with me.While no one in England should be rushing to roll out the red carpet for the pair, a flat-out rejection and refusal to forgive — even for the most ardent royalist — misses the bigger picture.For all the rows and recriminations, mudslinging and point-scoring the monarchy needs Harry and Meghan —both to fill a charisma void and as a jolt to the current dull and depleted complacency.The British monarchy is not in good shape following major scandal and growing anti-royal sentiment.It took far too longer to ditch Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, whose friendship with the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein has caused untold reputational damage to the brand.In King Charles, we have a committed but ailing monarch doing the heavy lifting while supported by his dull and dutiful siblings.

Meanwhile, Prince William and Kate Middleton are still struggling to shake off their work-shy reputations.In fact, William has all too often made royal life seem like something to be tolerated: a part-time gig to fit around family life and holidays, which overlooks the unavoidable fact he will king in the not too distant future.Yes, Harry and Meghan squandered the popularity and ...