The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to return to the UK, relocating from their home in California to a private residence outside of London. This move marks a significant shift for the couple, who stepped back from their roles as working royals and moved to the United States in early 2020.
As part of the transition, the couple’s children, seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet, have been enrolled to begin classes at a British school this September. Despite the relocation, there are no plans for the couple to resume official royal duties, and they will maintain their status as private individuals.
King Charles was informed of the impending move this past Sunday. While he was unaware of the decision during the family’s visit to his Highgrove home in Gloucestershire this July, he has expressed that he welcomes the prospect of seeing more of the Sussex family in a private capacity. The July meeting, which the Palace described as a private family occasion, marked the first time the King had seen his grandchildren in person in over four years.
Prince William and Princess Catherine have also been notified of the couple’s plans. The move follows a period of strained family relations, though the recent visit to the King and Queen Camilla was viewed as a positive development. Prior to that trip, the couple had not been in the UK together since attending the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
Security remains a complex issue for the family. Prince Harry has previously stated that safety concerns have hindered his ability to bring his wife and children to the UK. Last year, the Duke lost a legal challenge regarding the level of state-funded police protection provided to his family after he ceased being a working royal. This ongoing tension over security arrangements previously led to the reconsideration of their July visit after a request for police protection was denied. The report also notes that external and the Sun,, external Prince Harry and Meghan intend to relocate from the US later this month to a private, non-royal residence outside London, as first reported by the Daily Telegraph.
