After more than six years in the United States, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, are preparing to open a new chapter in their relationship with Britain by returning to the U.K. with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in the coming weeks.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will return to live in Britain, but without resuming their roles as working members of the Royal Family. The family is expected to live in a private residence rather than a royal property, while continuing to maintain their home in California.
The return carries particular significance for the family, following years of tension between Harry and his relatives after he and Meghan stepped down from their royal duties in 2020. However, recent months have brought signs of improving relations between Harry and his father, King Charles III, who met his grandchildren during the family’s visit to Britain in July — his first meeting with them since 2022.
According to reports, Harry informed his father of the family’s relocation plans on Sunday. The King welcomed the opportunity to spend more time with his son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren in a private and personal capacity. The move, however, is not expected to change the arrangements established after Harry and Meghan stepped away from royal life.
One of the most significant aspects of the relocation is the children’s education. Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, are expected to begin attending school in Britain when the new academic year starts in September, after spending their early school years in the United States.
Harry and Meghan left Britain in 2020 after deciding to step back from royal duties and pursue a more independent life. They later settled in California, while their relationship with the Royal Family became increasingly strained following a series of public statements and interviews in which they discussed their experiences within the monarchy.
Despite the tensions, Harry has continued to make occasional trips back to Britain. His relationship with his father has also appeared to enter a period of gradual efforts toward reconciliation. The family’s planned return comes at a time when Harry’s relationship with some other members of the Royal Family, particularly his brother, Prince William, remains strained.
The move therefore does not represent a return to royal duties for Harry and Meghan. Instead, it marks a change in where the family will live and could give King Charles more opportunities to see his grandchildren, while the couple maintains their private lives and independence from the institution of the monarchy.