Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing to move their family back to Britain, settling in a private, non-royal residence outside of London. Their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, are already enrolled to begin school in September.
The couple, who stepped down as working royals and relocated to California in March 2020, have spent the intervening years portraying a life of family activities in Montecito. Harry stated in a 2023 interview with Tom Bradby that he was "in a better place than I've ever been" while living in their $29 million mansion, expressing peace and happiness.
"The safety, the safety of my family is my priority," Harry said, citing it as the primary reason for their departure from the UK. He added that the circumstances that led to their move "haven't changed, in fact, it's only got worse," and that while he and his family feel safe in the United States, returning to the UK has been difficult.
In a 2022 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry described himself and his family as "trapped within the system, like the rest of my family are," and indicated he would not have left the UK if it were not for Meghan.
Harry has reportedly expressed a desire for his children to attend a British school, with friends suggesting he feels they are missing out on an extensive family network. While the exact location of their new UK home remains undisclosed, it is understood that the move is not part of plans to return to royal duties. King Charles was informed of the decision by his son on Sunday, and the Prince and Princess of Wales have also been notified. The King welcomes private family visits but has made it clear there will be no change to the Duke and Duchess's status as private individuals and non-working members of the Royal Family.
The Sussexes will retain their homes in California and Portugal, and Meghan plans to operate her lifestyle brand, As Ever, from their new UK base.