The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, plan to relocate from the United States to the United Kingdom later this month. The BBC reports that the couple intends to live in a private, non-royal residence located outside of London. Their children, seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet, are scheduled to begin attending a British school in September.
This move follows a six-year period during which the couple lived abroad after stepping back from their roles as working members of the Royal Family in early 2020. Since that time, family relations have been described as strained. A meeting at Highgrove in July between the Sussexes and King Charles marked the first time the King had seen his grandchildren in person in more than four years.
King Charles was informed of the relocation plans on Sunday. According to the BBC, the King was not aware of the move until the past weekend but stated he welcomes the opportunity to see the family in a private capacity. Prince William and Princess Catherine have also been notified. Despite the move, there are no plans for the Duke and Duchess to resume official royal duties, and they will maintain their status as private individuals.
The scale of this move is marked by the six-year absence of the couple from permanent residence in the UK. During their time in the U.S., the couple had limited physical contact with the Royal Family, with their last joint appearance in the UK occurring in 2022 for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The Duke of Sussex has previously cited security concerns as a primary barrier to bringing his family to the country, following a legal challenge he lost last year regarding the level of police protection he is entitled to as a non-working royal.
The knock-on effects of this move involve the ongoing management of royal security and family dynamics. While the couple will live in a private residence, the Duke’s previous legal challenges suggest that the cost and provision of security for high-profile private individuals remain unresolved issues. The move sets a precedent for how former working royals may navigate private life within the UK while maintaining a relationship with the reigning monarch. The next significant dates will be the couple’s arrival later this month and the children’s first day of school in September.