Prince Harry and Meghan to Return to UK with Children After Six Years in California

LONDON — Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are preparing to return to the United Kingdom with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in a significant change for the family more than six years after they stepped back from royal duties and relocated to the United States.

According to British media reports cited by The Associated Press, the couple plans to establish a private, non-royal base outside London. Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, have already been enrolled at British schools and are expected to begin classes in September. The family intends to retain its home in Montecito, California, as well as a vacation property in Portugal.

The move does not signal a return to official royal duties. Harry and Meghan stepped down as working members of the royal family in 2020 and subsequently settled in California, where they pursued independent business and charitable activities.

The planned return comes amid signs of renewed contact between Harry and his family. King Charles III recently hosted Harry, Meghan and their children, marking an important family reunion after years of strained relations. Harry has previously expressed a desire to improve his relationship with his father.

The couple’s relationship with other members of the royal family, particularly Prince William, remains strained. Harry’s public statements, his 2023 memoir Spare and disputes surrounding his security arrangements in Britain have contributed to tensions within the family.

The return to Britain is nevertheless viewed as a potentially important new chapter for the Sussex family. With their children set to receive their education in the UK, the move could provide Harry with greater opportunities to spend time with his father and reconnect with relatives while maintaining the couple’s independent status outside the working royal family.

The development represents the most significant change in the Sussexes’ family arrangements since their departure from royal life and relocation to North America in 2020.