Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, are making a return to the United Kingdom along with their children, as confirmed by Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. The initial reports came from The Telegraph and The Sun. The couple, along with their children Prince Archie, aged 7, and Princess Lilibet, aged 5, will be relocating but will maintain their status as private citizens, according to the Palace.
While the exact date of their return was not officially disclosed, media speculations suggest it will be in time for the children to commence school in September. Harry and Meghan had stepped back from their royal duties and departed the UK in March 2020. Following a brief stay in Canada, they eventually settled in California later that same month.
Their decision to move back to the UK comes amidst strained relations with the Royal Family, stemming from public criticisms directed at the monarchy and the family itself. In an interview on The Late, Late Show with James Corden in February 2021, Harry expressed his challenges within the royal environment and his determination to prioritize his family’s well-being.
Harry also voiced his frustration over changes in his security arrangements by the UK government, citing concerns about the lack of automatic police protection for his children during visits to Britain. Despite these challenges, he emphasized that he never intended to abandon his responsibilities.
Furthermore, Harry was part of a group of prominent figures in the UK who faced legal setbacks in privacy lawsuits against the publisher of The Daily Mail in July. He testified about the negative impact on Meghan’s life due to the newspaper’s actions, expressing disappointment in the court’s ruling.
However, signs of a reconciliation emerged last September when Harry and his father, King Charles, had a brief reunion after nearly 20 months. The family recently visited Britain in July, where King Charles met his grandchildren for the first time since 2022. The Palace confirmed that the King was informed of Harry’s relocation plans and welcomed the opportunity for more private interactions with the Sussex family.
King Charles, aged 77, had been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since early 2024. Following positive progress, doctors shifted his treatment to a precautionary phase in December after he responded well to the initial treatment.