London, August 20 — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to return to Britain with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, six years after stepping back from senior royal duties and relocating to the United States, according to reports.
The Sussexes are expected to relocate from California to Britain later this month, with Archie and Lilibet due to begin attending school in the UK in September. The family is expected to live in a private, non-royal residence, while Harry and Meghan will remain non-working royals with no current plans to resume official duties.
The move marks a significant development in the couple’s relationship with Britain and the wider royal family. Harry and Meghan left the UK in 2020 following prolonged tensions within the royal household, intense media scrutiny and disputes over their security arrangements.
Children’s Education Behind the Move
The decision to return is closely linked to the education of their children. Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, are expected to begin school in Britain in September, marking their first sustained period of education in the country. The couple previously lived in Montecito, California, where their children attended school.
The Sussexes are reportedly planning to establish their family life in a private home rather than return to a royal residence. Their precise location has not been publicly disclosed.
No Return to Official Royal Duties
Despite their return to Britain, there is no indication that Harry and Meghan intend to resume their former roles as working members of the Royal Family.
The couple stepped back from senior royal duties in 2020 and subsequently relocated to North America. Their position as non-working royals remains unchanged, meaning their return to Britain does not amount to a formal return to royal service.
The distinction is significant because the move could otherwise have been interpreted as the beginning of a formal reconciliation with the institution.
A Relationship Marked by Public Disputes
Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the Royal Family deteriorated sharply after their departure from Britain. Their subsequent interviews and public statements, including Harry’s memoir Spare, revealed deep disagreements with members of the royal household and generated further controversy.
The couple have also repeatedly raised concerns about their security in Britain. Harry has pursued legal action over arrangements for police protection when he and his family are in the UK, arguing that security concerns have affected his ability to bring his family back.
Those concerns were still prominent earlier this year, when Harry considered whether Meghan and their children would accompany him on a UK visit because of the dispute over security arrangements.
Signs of a Thaw with King Charles
Despite the continuing tensions, relations between Harry and his father, King Charles III, have shown signs of improvement.
In July, Charles met Harry, Meghan and their two children privately at Highgrove. It was the first time the King had seen Archie and Lilibet in person in several years.
The meeting was viewed as a significant personal development following years of strained relations. Harry has previously expressed a desire to repair his relationship with his father and to ensure that his children maintain a connection with their royal family.
The relationship between Harry and his elder brother, Prince William, however, remains considerably more strained.
Security Remains a Key Issue
Harry’s return also keeps the long-running security dispute in the spotlight.
Since stepping back from royal duties, Harry has no longer received the same automatic security arrangements available to working royals. He has challenged decisions concerning the level of police protection provided to him and his family while in Britain.
The issue has been one of the principal obstacles to the Sussexes spending more time in the UK, with Harry previously saying that he did not feel able to bring his wife and children back without appropriate security arrangements.
A New Chapter Outside the Royal Institution
For now, the Sussexes’ return appears to represent a change in where the family will live rather than a return to royal duties.
They are expected to maintain their private lives and independent professional activities while residing in Britain without royal accommodation or an official working role. Their return nevertheless places the family physically closer to the monarchy and could create further opportunities for private reconciliation.
Whether the move ultimately leads to a deeper restoration of family relations remains uncertain. For the moment, however, Harry and Meghan appear to be returning to Britain not as working royals, but as private members of the wider Royal Family seeking to establish a new chapter closer to their British roots.
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