Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Relocate to UK; Children Enrolled in Schools

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are returning to the United Kingdom within days. They will make their home in a non-royal residence outside London.

They have already enrolled Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, in British schools, with classes set to begin in September. The couple plans to relocate later in August, six years after moving to the United States in March 2020. They will retain their homes in Montecito, California, and Portugal. King Charles III was informed of the decision on Sunday, which was three or four days before the public announcement.

Sources close to the couple said King Charles welcomed the opportunity to see his family more often in a private capacity. Prince William and Princess Catherine were also informed separately. Harry and Meghan will not resume their roles as working members of the royal family, maintaining their status as private individuals. This aligns with the agreement made with the late Queen Elizabeth when they left in March 2020.

Meghan will continue running her lifestyle brand As Ever from their new base, and Harry will likely continue his charity work. Relations with the royal family have been strained since their departure, particularly after their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey and Harry's memoir "Spare." Harry has expressed an interest in reconciliation to spend more time with his father, King Charles III, who is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer.

The family visited King Charles at Highgrove in July, but the upcoming move was not discussed during that visit. Harry previously cited a long-running row over his family’s security as a reason he would not feel safe returning to the UK. His security was downgraded after he stepped down from royal duties, and he unsuccessfully challenged this decision in the courts on multiple occasions, losing a legal challenge in 2025.

Social media users reacted to the news, with some of Donald Trump’s MAGA allies mocking the couple, suggesting their move was partly due to their dislike of President Donald Trump.