LONDON, Aug 20 – Prince Harry and Meghan are preparing for a major return to Britain, with the couple expected to move from their California home to a location outside London later this month with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The planned move comes more than six years after Harry and Meghan stepped away from royal duties and settled in the United States. During that period, the couple became increasingly outspoken about their experiences within the royal family, their treatment by the British press and the security arrangements surrounding Harry when he visits the country.
According to a person close to the couple, Harry and Meghan intend to remain in Britain for an extended period. Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, are also expected to attend school in Britain, marking a significant change for children who have spent most of their lives in California.
The family will not move into a royal residence and will continue to live as non-working members of the royal family. Their planned return therefore represents a personal decision rather than a restoration of their former official roles.
King Charles only learned about the move on Sunday, according to reports. The development comes shortly after the king and Harry appeared to make progress in repairing their relationship.
A dramatic change after years in California
Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the British royal family began to deteriorate not long after their wedding at Windsor Castle in 2018. Their marriage had initially been viewed as a potential new chapter for the monarchy, with Meghan’s background as an American actor bringing a different public profile to the institution.
Instead, tensions grew rapidly.
In early 2020, the couple announced that they would step back from official royal responsibilities and build a new life in the United States. They eventually settled in Montecito, California, near Santa Barbara, where they purchased a large property reportedly worth about $14.7 million at the time.
Their departure did not end their involvement in public discussions about the monarchy. In the years that followed, Harry and Meghan spoke openly about their experiences in interviews, documentaries and other media projects.
One of the most widely discussed moments came during their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. Meghan said an unnamed member of the royal family had raised concerns about the possible skin color of her and Harry’s future child. The comments triggered an international debate about racism and the monarchy.
Prince William later rejected the suggestion that the royal family was racist, saying the issue needed to be addressed directly.
Harry subsequently made further revelations about his family in his memoir, Spare. His accounts of disagreements with his father, King Charles, and his older brother William deepened the public perception of a serious family rift.
The relationship between Harry and William remains particularly difficult. While Harry has appeared to make progress with his father, there has been little indication of a similar breakthrough between the two brothers.
Security concerns and a changing relationship with King Charles
Security has been one of the most sensitive issues surrounding Harry’s relationship with Britain.
After stepping down as a working royal, Harry lost the automatic level of police protection that had previously accompanied his official status. He argued that the change made it difficult for him to safely bring Meghan and their children to Britain.
The dispute became part of a broader legal and public battle over the security arrangements available to him when visiting the country.
Despite those concerns, Harry has continued to express a desire for Archie and Lilibet to have a meaningful connection with Britain. The children’s planned education in the country could therefore become one of the most important elements of the family’s return.
The relationship between Harry and King Charles has also shown signs of improvement.
The king, who is undergoing treatment for an unspecified form of cancer, met his youngest son last month. Harry, Meghan and their children also visited Britain during that period, giving Charles an opportunity to spend time with his grandchildren for the first time since 2022.
Their meeting followed a period of considerable distance between father and son. Harry had previously spoken publicly about his frustrations with his father’s decisions and the wider royal institution.
The planned move suggests that Harry now feels more comfortable spending a substantial amount of time in Britain, although it does not mean he and Meghan are returning to royal duties.
Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the reported plans, while Harry’s spokesperson has also not provided a public statement.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, when asked whether taxpayers could ultimately be expected to meet the couple’s security costs, described the issue as a private matter for Harry and Meghan and said he wished them well.
Harry and Meghan face a new chapter under intense media attention
The decision to return to Britain could put Harry and Meghan back at the center of the media environment they once described as one of the main reasons for leaving.
Since moving to California, the couple have built a new professional life around television, publishing, podcasts and lifestyle projects. They signed major commercial agreements with companies including Netflix and Spotify, while Harry’s memoir became a bestseller.
Not every venture has lasted. Their Spotify partnership eventually ended, while Meghan’s Netflix lifestyle program was not renewed for a third season. At the same time, Meghan has continued developing her lifestyle brand and has increasingly shared glimpses of family life through Instagram.
The couple’s visibility in the United States has also evolved. They are no longer simply former working royals adapting to life in California. They have become independent media personalities with commercial interests of their own.
Hollywood publication Deadline’s executive editor Dominic Patten said the couple had not achieved the level of superstar status some observers initially expected after their move to the United States. However, he noted that they had managed to maintain public interest for years, something that can be difficult in an entertainment industry crowded with established celebrities.
Their return to Britain is likely to generate another wave of attention, particularly around their home, the children’s education and Harry’s security.
Royal commentator Afua Hagan said interest would increase significantly once the family arrived. Questions about where they would live and which schools Archie and Lilibet would attend are expected to dominate coverage.
For Harry and Meghan, however, the return could represent more than a change of address. It would bring them back to the country where their relationship with the royal family became strained and where much of the controversy surrounding their departure began.
A former senior royal aide warned that the move could create difficulties for both the couple and other members of the royal family. The aide suggested that William and his wife, Catherine, could find the development particularly uncomfortable after years of public criticism directed at the monarchy and individual members of the family.
At the same time, Harry and Meghan appear to be approaching Britain with a different level of experience. They have spent years dealing with intense international media scrutiny and have developed their own public and commercial identities away from the royal institution.
Hagan described the return as a move back into Britain’s highly demanding media environment, but argued that the couple would be better prepared than they were before leaving.
For Harry, the decision also brings him closer to the country where he was born and where he spent most of his early life. For Meghan, it means returning to a country that has been central to the most difficult chapters of her public life.
Their move will not restore the role they once held within the monarchy. They are expected to remain private, non-working royals and will not take on official duties.
But with Archie and Lilibet set to attend school in Britain, King Charles having recently reunited with his grandchildren, and Harry spending more time in his home country, the family’s relationship with Britain appears to be entering an unexpected new phase.
Whether the move leads to a broader reconciliation within the royal family remains uncertain. Harry’s relationship with William remains strained, and years of public disagreements cannot easily be erased.
For now, however, the decision to return represents a striking reversal for a couple who once left Britain determined to build a life thousands of miles away. After six years in California, Harry and Meghan are preparing to put down roots in Britain again, this time on their own terms.