Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plan to return to live in the United Kingdom with their family six years after relocating to the United States.
British news organisations, including the BBC, reported on Wednesday night that the couple's two children, seven-year-old Archie and five-year-old Lilibet, have been enrolled in a British school in preparation for the start of the academic term in September. Neither the Duke and Duchess of Sussex nor representatives for the royal family have issued an official confirmation of the move.
Harry, aged 41, and Meghan, aged 45, currently reside in California after stepping back from their official duties as senior members of the royal family in 2020. According to media reports, Harry's father, King Charles III, aged 77, was informed of the family's intention to return to Britain on Sunday.
Potential locations for a British home
Media reports indicate that the couple have already selected a private residence in Britain, choosing not to live in any of the official royal properties. One prospective location under consideration is the Northampton region, situated north of London, which is home to the historic Althorp estate. Althorp is owned by the Spencer family, the relatives of Harry's mother, the late Princess Diana.
Another potential location reported by British media is the Cotswolds region near Oxford in central-western England. The rural region is widely known as a popular residential area for high-profile celebrities and public figures.
The reports follow a private gathering in early July, when King Charles and Queen Camilla received Harry, Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet. The visit marked the first time the King had met with his son's family together in four years.
The July meeting coincided with a trip by Prince Harry to advance preparations for the 2027 Invictus Games, scheduled to take place in Birmingham, in central England. Harry founded the international multi-sport event in 2014 for wounded, injured, and sick armed services personnel and military veterans.
Security arrangements and charitable patronage
The prospective move leaves several key questions unresolved, particularly regarding security protocols for the Sussex family. Harry previously stated that he did not feel safe bringing his wife and children to the United Kingdom after losing a court battle in 2025 over government-funded police protection.
Despite residing in North America for the past six years, Harry has retained his patronage of multiple charitable organisations based in the United Kingdom.
Nathalie Weidhase, a lecturer at the University of Surrey who specializes in celebrity culture and the British monarchy, told news agency AFP that if the move is confirmed, media and public attention will inevitably refocus on the original friction points that prompted their departure. Weidhase highlighted past concerns regarding racism experienced by Meghan, subsequent personal security worries, and heightened family tensions that followed the publication of Harry's autobiography, Spare, in which he disclosed private family details.
Weidhase also raised questions about whether the couple would maintain their commercial ventures or if the move signals a return to official royal duties. She noted that their current commercial work, including podcasts, lifestyle television programming, and business projects, is viewed as incompatible with traditional royal roles, which are expected to focus on public service rather than financial profit.
US ventures and public sentiment
The British tabloid Daily Mail reported that the planned relocation will likely be viewed as an explicit admission of failure regarding their efforts to build a career base in North America. Following a lucrative commercial agreement with Netflix and other media projects, Meghan established a commercial venture named As Ever, a business selling items including jams, candles, and tea.
Prince Harry has repeatedly stated in past interviews that he hopes for a reconciliation with his family. Royal expert Ed Owens stated that Harry's desire for reconciliation with his family played a role in the decision, but noted that the primary motivation is for Harry and Meghan to raise their children in the United Kingdom.
Prince William, Harry's older brother and heir to the throne, has not publicly reacted to reports of the move. Meanwhile, public sentiment in the United Kingdom remains uncertain, as recent opinion polling from YouGov indicates low popularity ratings for the couple, with 33 percent of respondents holding a positive view of Harry and 22 percent viewing Meghan positively.
