Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly planning a move back to the United Kingdom, a development that could place a renewed spotlight on their significant criticisms of the royal family and the British press. Multiple reports indicate the Duke and Duchess of Sussex intend to relocate their family to a private residence outside London by the end of this month.
Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are expected to begin attending a British school in September. King Charles III has been informed of the move and reportedly welcomes increased time with his grandchildren. Prince William and Princess Kate have also been made aware of the plans.
The Sussexes' potential return is not expected to involve a resumption of their duties as working royals. However, it arrives years after a series of public statements and interviews, including a 2021 sit-down with Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry's 2023 memoir "Spare," in which they detailed strained relationships and difficult experiences within the monarchy.
During their interview with Winfrey, Prince Harry described himself and his father and brother as being "trapped" within the royal institution. He also expressed feeling "really let down" by his father and spoke of being on "different paths" from Prince William.
Meghan Markle made allegations about conversations within the royal family concerning the potential skin color of her firstborn son, Archie, prior to his birth. She also stated that the decision for Archie not to receive a royal title or security was made by the palace and that she and Prince Harry were not asked to pose for the traditional hospital steps photo. Meghan drew a distinction between the media scrutiny she faced and that directed at Kate Middleton, labeling the coverage she experienced as "rude and racist" while calling Middleton's treatment merely "rude," asserting that Middleton had a press team for public defense, unlike herself and Harry.
Meghan also revealed to Winfrey that she experienced suicidal thoughts during her time as a working royal, attributing this to relentless media scrutiny. Prince Harry stated he entered a "very dark place" witnessing his wife's struggles and drew parallels between the media attention on Meghan and that directed at his late mother, Princess Diana. He also described his requests for help from his family as being met with "total silence" and "total neglect."
In his memoir, "Spare," Prince Harry detailed a physical altercation with Prince William in 2019, during which he alleged his brother pushed him to the floor. He also recounted a crisis meeting with Queen Elizabeth II, then-Prince Charles, and Prince William following their decision to step back from royal duties, describing it as "terrifying" with his father saying things that "weren't true" and his grandmother remaining silent.
Prince Harry has also been vocal about security concerns, particularly after losing taxpayer-funded police protection. He stated in May 2025 that he could not envision bringing his wife and children back to the U.K. due to not feeling safe under the current security arrangements, following a legal defeat in his bid to pay for his own police detail. He expressed a desire for reconciliation with his family, noting "life is precious."