Education Secretary Lucy Powell suggested that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children, Archie and Lilibet, are unlikely to attend a local state school upon the family's return to the UK. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly planning an extended stay in Britain, with their children already enrolled in a UK educational institution.
Appearing on BBC Breakfast, Powell described the Sussexes' decision to educate their children in the UK as a "great endorsement of our education system." However, when asked if Archie and Lilibet would attend a state school, Powell indicated this was improbable. "I don't imagine they probably will," Powell said, explaining that enrollment for state schools typically requires application the previous October. "They would have had to apply for a place last October and known where they were living."
Powell emphasized that the return of the family to Britain is a positive development for the country. "I'm pleased to see they are coming back to this country to live here," she stated. "We do have great schools.... we have a great education system here and it is one of the things that attracts people from around the world, whether that is universities or our school system."
Archie, who is seven, and Lilibet, who is five, are understood to be starting at their new school in September. The exact duration of the family's stay in the UK remains unconfirmed. The report from the Daily Mail notes that A-level results released earlier this month showed that students from private schools outperformed their state-school counterparts, with 48.6% achieving A and A* grades.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, children of the Prince and Princess of Wales, currently attend the independent Lambrook school in Berkshire, which costs approximately £32,000 per year. Prince George is expected to follow his father and uncle by attending Eton College. However, Prince Harry has expressed reservations about his own experience at Eton, writing in his memoir 'Spare' that he struggled with classroom work and that the school's sports programs were the primary reason he remained enrolled.
Prior to Eton, both Harry and William attended Wetherby School in London for their pre-preparatory education before boarding at Ludgrove School in Berkshire. Friends of Prince Harry have indicated his desire to educate his children in the UK, suggesting he feels they are missing out on their extended family network. "Harry wants his children to have the very best education," a friend told Richard Eden of the Daily Mail last year. "He has retained his closest friendship group of confidants from his days at school at Ludgrove and Eton. He wants that for his own children."
Reports suggest that a boarding school education may be unlikely for Archie and Lilibet, with Meghan Markle reportedly describing the practice as "barbaric." This sentiment could indicate ongoing discussions between Harry and Meghan regarding their children's schooling.
Details regarding the specific location of the Sussexes' new residence in Britain have not been disclosed for privacy reasons. The family will reside in a non-royal property and will not be undertaking official royal duties. King Charles was informed of the planned return by Prince Harry on Sunday, and the Prince and Princess of Wales have also been notified. While the King welcomes private family time, sources insist there will be no alteration to the Duke and Duchess's status as private citizens and non-working members of the Royal Family. The Sussexes have also reportedly indicated that they do not intend to return to the royal fold.
Prince Harry was recently seen at a roundtable discussion in Washington focused on increasing support for veterans. He was already scheduled to attend the WellChild Awards in the UK next month, an event for which he had previously been expected to stay at Buckingham Palace. However, the couple and their children are now believed to be returning for an extended period within the next two weeks, and will not require accommodation at the palace.