The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly planning a return to the UK, according to reports.
Harry and Meghan’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are expected to start school in Britain in September.
The couple, who stepped down as senior royals and moved to California six years ago, are said to be relocating to a non-royal residence outside London later this month.
King Charles, who was informed of their plans just days before the news became public, is said to welcome the return for personal, not official, reasons.
Harry and Meghan moving back to the UK after 6 years
Peter Hunt, a former BBC royal correspondent, said: “The surprise return of Harry and Meghan is likely to have left William apoplectic.
“In the long term, the return of the Sussexes to the UK opens up the prospect of two rival courts, William’s and Harry’s.
“In the short term, Harry will be able to deepen his rapprochement with his father.
“And his presence back home will make it harder for his brother to duck a reconciliation.”
Relations between Harry and his brother, the Prince of Wales, have been strained since the Sussexes’ public criticism of the Royal Family and the wider institution.
The Telegraph and The Sun reported that Archie, seven, and Lili, five, will start at their new schools in September.
The couple will keep their homes in Montecito, California, and Portugal, with Meghan continuing to run her lifestyle brand, As Ever, from their new base.
Their decision is also not expected to change their standing as non-working members of the Royal Family.
Harry and Meghan married at St George’s Chapel in Windsor in May 2018 and were once seen as part of the so-called “Fab Four” alongside William and Kate.
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However, in March 2019, Buckingham Palace announced Harry and Meghan would set up their own household, and less than a year later, they announced plans to step back as senior royals and split their time between the UK and North America.
This led to the Sandringham Summit, where the late Queen made it clear the couple could not be “half in and half out” of royal duties.
By March 2020, they had set up a permanent home in California, officially stepped down as senior royals and stopped using their HRH styles.
The news of their return comes amid recent discussions about security arrangements for the family in the UK.
In late June, Harry was awaiting a review by the Risk Management Board, part of the process used by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), to determine his security requirements for future visits.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The UK Government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate.
“It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.”
The Home Secretary does not make individual decisions on royal security, which are instead determined by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures.
Harry and Meghan reportedly met with King Charles when they visited the UK in July for the Invictus Games (Image: Richard Pohle/The Times/PA Wire)
This body includes representatives from the Home Office, Metropolitan Police, and the royal household, and decisions are based on expert risk assessments.
A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess has not yet commented on the reports.
When did Harry and Meghan last visit the UK?
Prince Harry and Meghan had not been in the UK together since 2022, when they attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
However, both visited the UK in July, when Meghan travelled with Archie and Lilibet to join Harry at the conclusion of a week-long series of events promoting the Invictus Games.
During that visit, the family reportedly saw King Charles at his Highgrove home for the first time in four years, though it is not thought that the topic of returning to the UK was discussed.
The 2025 Invictus Games will take place in Birmingham from July 10 to 27, and are expected to draw around 550 wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans from 25 nations.
The planned relocation marks the latest surprising chapter in the Sussexes’ evolving relationship with the UK and the Royal Family, and raises fresh questions about their future role and public reception.
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