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Harry and Meghan Return?
— 2 mins read
The couple plan to be in Britain by September, when Archie and Lilibet start at a British school
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to move back to Britain later this month, six years after they quit royal life for California. Their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, are enrolled to start at a British school in September, according to BBC News.
The family will move into a private, non-royal residence outside London. The exact location has not been disclosed. They will keep their Montecito home, bought in 2020 for around $14 million (c.£10 million), along with a property in Portugal. Meghan's As Ever brand and the couple's Archewell operations will remain based in California.
No return to royal duties
The couple will not resume their previous roles as working royals, according to Reuters. They remain private individuals under the terms of the 2020 agreement struck with the late Queen. No half-in, half-out royal role is on offer. That arrangement was rejected in 2020 and has not been revived.
The move is reported to be for an extended period. It has not been confirmed as permanent.
The King was told on Sunday
King Charles was informed of the move on Sunday 17 August, BBC News reported. He is said to welcome 'the opportunity to see more of the Sussex family in a private and personal capacity'.
The King saw his grandchildren in July at Highgrove, the first such meeting since 2022. The move itself was not discussed at that visit.
Harry previously told the BBC he could not "see a world" in which he would bring his family back to Britain.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were also told, according to CBS News. Relations between the brothers remain strained. Reuters reports that Harry and William are barely on speaking terms.
The security row has not gone away
The move marks a sharp reversal for the Duke. Harry has fought long and expensive legal battles over the withdrawal of automatic police protection in the UK. He has repeatedly said Britain was not safe for his family, and previously told the BBC he could not 'see a world' in which he would bring them back. There is no indication the security dispute with the UK government has been resolved.
Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to California. The years since brought the Oprah Winfrey interview, the Netflix series, and Harry's memoir Spare, all of which contained sharp criticism of the Royal Family. The couple's decision to return appears to be driven by a wish for their children to be educated in England and to spend more time near Harry's family.
Key questions remain unanswered. The couple have not said where exactly they will live, whether they will buy or rent, or how long they intend to stay. Until the Sussexes or the Palace speak publicly, those details rest on unnamed sources close to the family.
