Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly preparing to move back to the United Kingdom from California by the end of the month, enrolling their two children in a British school. While the surprise relocation brings the family closer to royal relatives, officials confirm there will be no change to their official status.
A Surprise Return to British Soil After Six Years in California
Six years after stepping down as senior working royals and relocating to North America, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to the United Kingdom within weeks, according to British press reports. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to leave the United States before the end of the month, settling into a private, non-royal residence located outside of London.
Their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, have already been enrolled in a British school for the start of the academic term in early September. While the family intends to keep their Montecito mansion in California, according to reporting from the Sun newspaper, this upcoming Atlantic crossing marks a major reversal from their initial departure in 2020.
The move back follows a tumultuous period abroad. After stepping down from their official duties, the couple signed multimillion-dollar streaming contracts, including a mega deal with Netflix in 2020 reportedly worth an unconfirmed US$100 million ($140 million). While some initial entertainment projects struggled to win over audiences, the couple signed a looser multi-year, first look deal with the US streaming giant in August 2025.
Family Dynamics, Health Concerns, and Royal Roles
The 77-year-old monarch, who continues to receive treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer diagnosed in early 2024, welcomes the opportunity to see more of the Sussex family in a private and personal capacity.
Despite the physical proximity, King Charles does not intend to alter the Sussexes’ roles, and there is no expected change to their official status, as the BBC reported. The children had not seen their grandfather since 2022, prior to a low-key family visit last month at Highgrove House alongside Queen Camilla.
Prince Harry’s desire to repair familial ties has grown more urgent amid health realities.
“I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point continuing-to-fight any more, life is precious.”
While the father and son have met on a few occasions over the past year—including a 50-minute sit-down at Clarence House and a meeting at Highgrove—relations with Harry’s older brother, Prince William, remain deeply strained. The two brothers have become estranged and reportedly no longer talk, following a series of public falling-outs detailed in Harry’s memoir Spare
and a landmark television interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Security Questions and Public Reaction in Britain
The impending relocation has naturally sparked intense debate across the United Kingdom, echoing historic royal departures like that of King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne in December 1936 to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Much like Edward and Wallis, Harry and Meghan’s relationship and subsequent step-back from royal duties drew a massive media storm.
Addressing the practicalities of the family’s return, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that any security arrangements were a private matter. Speaking to the BBC, Burnham noted that the move was entirely a matter for the couple.
The question of security has been a central friction point. Last year, Harry lost a legal challenge over the level of security he was entitled to in the UK, stating at the time that he could not foresee a world in which he brought his wife and children back to the country. With that legal avenue closed and a private residence secured outside London, the family is nevertheless moving forward with their relocation ahead of the autumn school term.
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