Prince Harry appeared cheerful at a veterans roundtable in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, the same day reports surfaced of his and Meghan Markle's decision to relocate their family back to the United Kingdom. The Duke of Sussex, who served 10 years in the British Army, has long championed support for military personnel and veterans through initiatives such as the Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014.
The couple, along with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are reportedly planning an extended stay in the UK starting at the end of the month. This move marks a reversal six years after they stepped back from royal duties and relocated to California. A source indicated that King Charles III, who has been undergoing cancer treatment, played a role in their decision to return, and reportedly looks forward to spending more personal time with them. However, it was clarified that their status as private individuals and non-working members of the royal family will remain unchanged.
The Sussexes will reside in a non-royal property and continue their existing business ventures. Their departure from senior royal roles in January 2020 was described at the time as a transition to a "carve out a progressive new role within this institution," balancing time between the UK and North America while still honoring their duties. The period since their move to the U.S. has been marked by a widening rift with other members of the royal family, including public interviews and Prince Harry's memoir, "Spare." Despite past estrangement, Harry and his father, King Charles, were reported to have reconciled during a European visit in July, though relations with Prince William and Catherine Middleton remain strained.
Prince Harry spoke at Wednesday's event, with a small Union Jack flag placed before the microphone. His military service included two deployments to Afghanistan between 2005 and 2015, where he attained the rank of captain.
