What to know about Prince Harry's move back to Britain with Meghan and the kids

Prince Harry Plans Extended Stay in Britain With Meghan Markle and Children

Prince Harry intends to spend an extended period in Britain with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children. The move comes six years after the couple stepped down from their roles as working members of the royal family and relocated to the United States. Details about the length of the stay and its purpose remain limited, and Harry declined to comment on the plans when approached by The Associated Press at an event on Wednesday.

The couple has enrolled their children, Prince Archie, age 7, and Princess Lilibet, age 5, in British schools, with classes scheduled to begin in September, according to a person close to the Sussexes who spoke on condition of anonymity. The family will reside at a private residence outside London rather than any property tied to official royal duties. They will continue to maintain their primary home in Montecito, California, and a vacation property in Costa Terra, Portugal.

The couple will not take on working royal roles. Markle plans to continue operating her company, As Ever, which markets jams, tea, and wine, from Britain. Harry is expected to increase his involvement with charities based in the United Kingdom, the same person close to the Sussexes said.

Harry has visited Britain only occasionally since 2020, primarily in connection with legal proceedings against British newspapers and an unsuccessful challenge to the government’s decision to end his automatic police protection. A visit last month included time with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House. It was the first meeting between the children and their grandfather since the late Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee in 2022. British news outlets reported that Charles learned of the planned extended stay only on the preceding Sunday.

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on matters involving non-working members of the royal family. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond noted the timing of the disclosure in remarks to Sky News, stating that the sequence of events raised questions about prior discussions between Harry and his father.

Harry has publicly stated a desire for improved relations with his family. In a 2025 interview with the BBC, he said he sought reconciliation and cited concern over his father’s health. Relations with Prince William remain more distant. The couple’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey and a subsequent Netflix series described instances in which palace officials were said to have responded inadequately to Markle’s mental health concerns. The couple also reported that at least one family member had made comments about Markle’s racial background during her pregnancy with Archie. Harry’s 2023 memoir “Spare” included an account of a physical altercation with his brother and described Camilla in negative terms, attributing her actions to efforts to improve her public image through media contacts.

Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt told the Press Association that the announcement would likely affect William’s approach to any future contact. Hunt said Harry’s presence in Britain could limit William’s ability to avoid direct engagement.

Harry has repeatedly linked the withdrawal of his police protection to the broader family disagreement. He has stated that the change occurred after he ceased to be a working royal and that protection is now assessed on a case-by-case basis for each visit. He has maintained a private security team on recent trips. In earlier statements, Harry said he would not bring his wife and children to Britain without guaranteed security arrangements. It remains unclear whether any new risk assessment has been conducted by the relevant government committee.

Harry has pursued several legal actions against British tabloid publishers, alleging phone hacking and the use of private investigators. He obtained a judgment against the publisher of the Daily Mirror and reached a settlement with an apology from the publisher of The Sun. In a separate case against the publisher of the Daily Mail, Harry and other claimants, including Elton John, were unsuccessful last month. A judge is scheduled to rule on Friday regarding the allocation of approximately 34.5 million pounds in legal costs incurred by the defendants. Harry is also expected to face substantial fees from his own legal representation.

The family’s return raises several open questions, including the duration of the stay, arrangements for schooling beyond the initial enrollment, and any adjustments to security protocols. Harry has not indicated whether the move represents a permanent relocation or a temporary arrangement. Markle’s business operations and Harry’s charitable work are expected to continue across both countries.

Additional reporting was contributed by Danica Kirka in London and James Pollard in Washington.