Exclusive | Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's UK move is 'huge slap in the face' to William, creates 'serious risks' for monarchy

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's impending move back to the UK after six years in Southern California is going to create headaches for Prince William, Page Six hears.

"It's a huge slap in the face for William, and it does also create serious risks for the monarchy," royal reporter Tom Sykes told Page Six following news that Harry and his family will head back across the Atlantic later this month.

Sykes said that, given the longstanding feud between the brothers, the move will create a "huge succession" of additional "challenges" for the Prince of Wales.

"What is gonna happen if Charles invites Harry to join the royal family for Christmas? What is gonna happen if Harry wants to attend the Remembrance Day celebrations?" Sykes posed.

The reporter added that, in his opinion, there is "no way" King Charles "did not know" the move was happening. A source confirmed to Page Six Wednesday that the monarch learned of Harry and Markle's intentions Sunday.

Sykes said the couple's move back creates "serious risks for the monarchy."

The author also explained that he feels it's "a very, very dangerous situation" that Charles "allowed himself to be manipulated into welcoming them home," noting that "there's no way that the late Queen Elizabeth II would've allowed this to happen."

Still, Sykes explained, the relocation — which Page Six confirmed will be for "an extended period" — "is a huge moment for Harry and Meghan" and their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, who will be enrolled in school there.

Sykes explained that while he did suspect "something was afoot" with the couple, he "never imagined it would be anything of this magnitude or it'd be happening this quickly."

The author called the idea that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be relocating by the end of the month "quite extraordinary."

Harry and his wife famously left the UK in 2020, giving up their roles as working members of the British royal family in a move dubbed "Megxit."

They relocated to an expansive estate in Montecito, California, where they've been raising Archie and Lilibet, and we're told they won't be selling the $14.5 million estate there.

Sources told Page Six on Wednesday that Harry and Markle made the decision in order to be closer to his father and to give their children the opportunity to build family relationships.

Markle found mixed success in Southern California with her lifestyle brand, As Ever, and as the host of her own Netflix series, "With Love, Meghan," which ran for two seasons.

Still, Sykes said he feels it's "very clear that things haven't worked out in America the way they thought they would" and suggested there may be financial motivations for the family moving back to Harry's homeland.

Sykes told us things "haven't worked out in America" for Harry and Markle "the way they thought they would."

"I think if there was another $100 million deal on the table, they wouldn't be rushing home," Sykes told us.

Harry said last year that he "can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point" after the government's Royal and VIP Executive Committee, called RAVEC, had ruled that his family was not entitled to extra security when visiting Britain. (The committee will reassess the situation with the family's upcoming move.)

The news of the couple's move back to England comes after Harry's reunion with his father — who is living with cancer — in July.

Harry previously told the BBC last year, "I don't know how much longer my father has."