Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to withdraw their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, from their new school just two days into the term has drawn criticism from a royal expert who questions their planning.
According to royal expert Kinsey Schofield, the logistical challenges, particularly the traffic and distance from the family's temporary residence to the school, should have been anticipated. "None of these logistical problems are a surprise," Schofield told Page Six. "When I was speaking to people locally about the original school, one of the first things I was warned about was the horrific traffic."
The security team for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex determined that the daily commute, which involved traveling four times a day and took approximately 45 minutes each way, was too difficult to manage safely amid heavy traffic. This led to the decision to pull Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, from the institution.
"I was told you need the patience of a saint to navigate that area during the school run," Schofield explained. "Then you factor in the distance from where the Sussexes are currently staying and the different schedules for two children of different ages, and this meant making that 45-minute journey four times a day."
Schofield views this incident as "another example of Harry and Meghan appearing to choose the more complicated route and then discovering that the complications are difficult to manage." The expert also noted the timing of the situation, given the couple's ongoing dispute over security arrangements in the United Kingdom.
Prince Harry has long argued that his family requires a higher level of security when in Britain. Schofield suggested that presenting this school-related issue as further evidence of inadequate security could be perceived cynically. "Harry has spent years making the case that his family requires a greater level of security in Britain, and suddenly a very foreseeable school-run problem is being presented as another example of why their existing security arrangements are inadequate," she stated.
However, Ryan McCormick, a crisis communications expert at Goldman McCormick PR, offered a different perspective. He suggested that the decision may stem from genuine concern for the children's safety. "It seems that Harry and Meghan have genuine concern about the safety of their children," McCormick said. "Because of who they are, everything that they do is met with speculation and heightened scrutiny."
Despite the criticism, the Sussexes have reportedly moved quickly to enroll their children in a new school. This development follows closely behind Meghan Markle's sharing of intimate family videos on Instagram, offering a glimpse into their new life in Britain. Schofield questioned the timing of these posts, asking, "Was the post intended to get ahead of this story? Given how carefully Harry and Meghan manage their public image, I think it is fair to ask."