Prince Harry and Meghan Reportedly Preparing To Move Back To UK, Children Enrolled in British School

British media report that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are planning to return to the United Kingdom within weeks and settle in a private, non-royal residence outside London, several outlets said late Wednesday.

The Telegraph said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex "plan to leave the United States by the end of the month to settle in a private, non-royal residence, which is said to be located outside London." The BBC and other UK outlets reported that their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, have been enrolled in a British school for the start of term in early September.

Although the couple are reported to have chosen a new home in Britain, it will not be one of the official royal residences. Harry and Meghan have lived in California since stepping down as working royals in 2020. Reports say the children have not seen their grandfather, King Charles III, since 2022.

King Informed, But No Return To Royal Duties

The Press Association said the 77-year-old monarch was informed on Sunday that the couple planned to return. The PA quoted the king as saying he "welcomes the opportunity to see more of the family in a personal capacity," while making clear there would be no change to the couple's official status: they would not resume roles as working royals.

Family Rift And Recent Visits

Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, left Britain amid an acrimonious split from the royal family that intensified after Harry published his memoir Spare and following a candid interview with Oprah Winfrey. The reports follow a short visit the Sussexes made to Britain in early July, during which the couple and their children had a private meeting with the king.

It was not immediately clear whether Prince William, the heir, and his wife Catherine had been informed. The two brothers are widely reported to be estranged.

Public Reaction And Media Coverage

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams described the move to GB News as "an extraordinary development," suggesting the couple's ventures in the U.S. had not delivered the public profile some expected. While the Sussexes signed a high-profile deal with Netflix in 2020—widely reported at the time as an unconfirmed $100 million—several projects have struggled to find wide audiences. A later arrangement with the streaming giant in August 2025 was described as a looser, multi-year first-look deal.

The Sun reported the couple would retain their Montecito home in California and a house in Portugal, which they are believed to have visited this summer. Media reports also noted earlier confusion over whether Harry would stay at Buckingham Palace during his July visit, a claim the palace denied.

Context: Diana, Media And A New Book

The news of the Sussexes' reported return coincides with an announcement by Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, that he has written a book about the princess. Harry has long blamed the press for the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997 while trying to evade paparazzi.

"With the 30th anniversary of Diana's tragic death on the skyline, I've been inundated yet again with requests for interviews about my sister," Spencer said. "This has convinced me to write down my own thoughts and memories, once and for all," adding that many public opinions were "based on untruths that have become accepted over time."

Spencer's book, Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, is scheduled for publication on September 22 in Britain and other countries and will be translated into multiple languages. Media reports say Harry, Meghan and their children visited the Spencer family estate at Althorp in central England in early July and were believed to have visited Diana's grave.

Note: Several details are based on media reports and the couple has not publicly confirmed the timing or exact plans for a permanent return to the UK.