Prince Harry and Meghan Markle move back to UK as private citizens

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle move back to UK as private citizens

Buckingham Palace confirmed Wednesday that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are relocating to the United Kingdom with their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. The move marks the first time the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will establish a home base in Britain since they stepped away from their senior royal positions and left the country in March 2020.

While the Palace did not confirm a specific return date, media reports indicate the family will arrive in time for Archie and Lilibet to begin school in September. The couple will establish a private, non-royal residence, though the location of the home and the children's school are being kept private. This arrangement follows the loss of their previous residence, Frogmore Cottage, which was bequeathed to them by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 but was not re-extended after their move to California. In 2023, they were asked to vacate the property, and it was subsequently offered to Prince Andrew.

Despite the relocation, the couple will not return as working royals. According to People, King Charles' position is that the Duke and Duchess will remain private individuals and non-working members of the royal family. This setup allows them to maintain their independent careers—including Meghan's lifestyle brand, As Ever—while spending more time in Britain.

The Sussexes plan to maintain a transatlantic lifestyle, keeping their longtime home in Montecito, California, as well as a vacation property in Portugal. In Montecito, they lived among neighbors such as Ariana Grande, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Oprah Winfrey.

The relocation follows a period of thawing relations between Prince Harry and his father. King Charles was reportedly informed of the plans on Sunday, August 16, and welcomes the chance to spend more private time with his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. The King, 77, was diagnosed with an undisclosed cancer in early 2024. A palace spokesperson stated last December that treatment had shifted to a precautionary phase because the King had responded exceptionally well to treatment.

This move comes after a recent family visit to Britain, which included a reunion with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove. It was the first time the King had seen Archie and Lilibet in more than four years and the first time Meghan had stayed in Britain since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in 2022. The family also visited Althorp House, the childhood home of Princess Diana, to spend time with the Spencer family and visit Diana's gravesite.

The return appears to be a strategic shift for Prince Harry, who recently sought to increase his presence in the U.K. To focus on his charities. He is expected to increase his involvement with the Invictus community, Scotty's Little Soldiers, and WellChild. A source cited by The Times stated that the frequency of Harry's trips would increase, especially leading up to the Invictus Games, noting that the way the wind is blowing, he's going to want to be here more and more.

However, the move does not suggest a full reconciliation with the entire royal family. While Harry's relationship with his father has improved, reports from July indicate his relationship with Prince William remains distant, with a source stating there had been no movement between the brothers.

The return follows years of public friction and legal battles. In February 2021, Harry told The Late, Late Show with James Corden that he did what any father or husband would do by getting his family out of a really difficult environment. He also expressed anger over changes to his security arrangements, claiming the lack of automatic police protection had prevented him from bringing his children to Britain.

Additionally, Harry recently lost privacy lawsuits in July against the publisher of The Daily Mail. Harry called the ruling a complete and obvious whitewash, but sadly not altogether unexpected, adding that the court's effort to exonerate the publication was as shocking as it is totally unwarranted.

The Sussex family is now preparing for their transition back to the U.K. This month, with the children scheduled to enter the British school system in September.