Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Move Family Back to UK
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing to move their family back to the United Kingdom, marking a dramatic change for the couple six years after they stepped away from royal duties and established a new life in California.
Harry and Meghan are expected to relocate to Britain later this month with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The family is planning to establish a private, non royal home in the United Kingdom, while continuing to maintain homes in California and Portugal.
The move represents one of the biggest changes in the Sussexes’ lives since their decision in 2020 to step back as senior working members of the royal family. The couple subsequently moved to North America and eventually settled in Montecito, California, where they have raised their children.
Unlike their previous life in Britain, Harry and Meghan are not returning as working royals. Their status as private members of the royal family will remain unchanged, meaning the move does not signal a return to official royal duties.
One of the most significant parts of the decision involves the couple’s children. Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, are expected to begin attending school in Britain in September. Their education appears to be an important factor in the family’s decision to spend a substantial amount of time in the United Kingdom.
The decision comes after years of tension between Harry and members of the royal family. Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal life was followed by a series of highly publicized interviews, documentaries and Harry’s memoir, in which he discussed his strained relationships with members of his family.
Relations with Harry’s father, King Charles III, have shown signs of improvement in recent months. Charles was reportedly informed of the family’s plans before the move, and the king is understood to be pleased with the prospect of having more opportunities to spend time with his grandchildren.
The family also spent time with Charles and Queen Camilla during a private visit to the United Kingdom in July. That visit came after years in which Harry’s children had very limited opportunities to spend time with their relatives in Britain.
The return is particularly notable because Harry has previously expressed serious concerns about bringing his wife and children to Britain without adequate security. His dispute with the British government over police protection has been a major issue since he and Meghan stopped being working royals.
Security arrangements surrounding the family’s return have not been publicly detailed. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the issue was a private matter when asked about whether taxpayers would fund security for the Sussexes.
The Sussexes’ decision also does not appear to mean they are completely abandoning their American life. Their California home will remain part of the family’s property portfolio, while they will also retain their residence in Portugal. The planned British home is expected to be private rather than a royal residence.
The move comes more than six years after Harry and Meghan announced that they intended to step back from their senior royal roles and become financially independent. They initially indicated that they wanted to divide their time between Britain and North America, but ultimately established their primary family life in the United States.
Harry’s return to Britain is therefore more complicated than simply reversing the decision made in 2020. The couple are not returning to royal duties, and there has been no indication that Harry will resume his former role as a working royal.
Instead, the relocation appears to create a new arrangement in which Harry and Meghan will maintain their independent careers and businesses while giving their children a stronger connection to Britain and Harry’s side of the family.
The timing is also significant for Charles, who has had limited opportunities to spend time with Archie and Lilibet in person. A longer-term British presence could give the king and his grandchildren more opportunities to build a relationship away from the intense public attention that has surrounded the royal family for years.
The decision is already generating widespread interest because of how dramatically circumstances have changed since Harry and Meghan left Britain. What began as an effort to create greater independence from royal life in North America has now evolved into a plan that will bring the family back to the country they left behind.
For now, the Sussexes are expected to remain private citizens and continue their lives outside the official royal institution. But with their children preparing to attend school in Britain and the family establishing a new home there, Harry’s return represents a major new chapter for one of the world’s most closely watched families.
The biggest question is whether the move will become a permanent return or remain an extended period of living in Britain. Current reporting describes the relocation as an extended stay rather than definitively confirming that the family has permanently abandoned California.
