Prince Harry and Meghan to relocate to UK as non-working royals

Prince Harry and Meghan to relocate to UK as non-working royals

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to relocate to the United Kingdom in late August, more than six years after the couple stepped away from their senior royal duties and moved to California. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will move with their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, to a private, non-royal residence believed to be located outside London.

King Charles was informed of the decision on Sunday, August 16. While the couple had a secret reunion with the monarch last month, the planned move was not discussed at that time. According to The Telegraph, the King is pleased by the news and is looking forward to the opportunity to see more of his family on a regular basis, both in a private and personal capacity.

Despite the relocation, the King has made it clear that the status of the Duke and Duchess as non-working royals and private individuals will remain unchanged. There are currently no plans for either Harry or Meghan to resume official royal duties. The Prince and Princess of Wales have also been informed of the move.

The children are already enrolled to begin at a British school in September. This return follows a period of strained family relations; Harry and Meghan had not been in the UK together since the 2022 funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

The move follows several recent attempts at reconciliation. In September 2025, Harry held a private meeting in London with his father that lasted less than an hour, marking their first face-to-face interaction in over a year. On July 10, Harry, Meghan, and their children had a top-secret reunion with King Charles and Queen Camilla, 79, at Highgrove House. Buckingham Palace described the gathering as a private family occasion and noted it was the first time the King had seen his grandchildren in person in more than four years.

Financial and professional arrangements will continue alongside the move. The couple will reportedly keep their homes in Portugal and Montecito, California. Meghan will also continue to operate her lifestyle brand, As Ever. Sources indicate that while the UK will be their primary home for the foreseeable future, the couple is still deciding whether to make the relocation permanent.

Security remains a point of contention. Harry has previously stated he would not feel safe bringing his family to the UK without police protection. However, the British government has refused to provide such support despite years of requests from the Prince.

The return comes after the couple's 2020 departure, known as "Megxit," during which they dropped their "Royal Highness" titles to seek financial independence. At the time, they cited restrictions on developing the "SussexRoyal" brand and intense pressure from tabloids. Following the Sandringham Summit, it was agreed they could keep their titles as Duke and Duchess of Sussex, though they were barred from using "Royal Highness."

Observers suggest the move does not automatically resolve deep-seated tensions. Grant Harrold, a former royal butler who served King Charles between 2004 and 2011, told The Express US that trust remains a major issue.

"I know from my time with them that William is big on trust; when you break his trust, there isn't really any coming back. King Charles is more forgiving, and he is willing to offer olive branches, as we have seen in this case. But I don’t see that changing; I think going forward, the issues will be around overcoming William and regaining his trust."