Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plan return to United Kingdom with children in August
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will move from California to a private estate outside London in late August 2026, enrolling Archie and Lilibet in British schools.
Relocation to England
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plan to move their primary residence from California to the United Kingdom in late August 2026. King Charles III was informed of the decision on Sunday, marking an end to the couple's six years of living abroad in the United States. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will settle in a private property located outside London rather than occupying a royal residence. Their two children, seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet, have secured school placements in Britain to begin the school term in September. The couple plans to retain their 11-million-pound estate in Montecito, California, along with their existing residence in Portugal.
- Harry and Meghan step back from royal duties and relocate to California
- Couple stripped of honorary military appointments and royal patronages
- Harry loses court appeal against the Home Office over state-funded security
- Family visits King Charles III at Highgrove House with Archie and Lilibet
- Sussexes announce relocation to private estate outside London ahead of school term
Unchanged status and royal relations
The relocation will not change the couple's position within the British monarchy. Official sources noted that Harry and Meghan will remain non-working royals and private citizens without official duties. The move follows a family visit in July 2026 at Highgrove House, where King Charles III met his grandchildren for the first time in four years. German newspaper Bild reported that the King's ongoing cancer diagnosis served as a key factor in Harry's decision to return to England. While communication between Harry and King Charles has improved, relations between Harry and Prince William remain distant, with no active dialogue between the two brothers.
Security disputes and legal background
Safety arrangements have been a persistent friction point since Harry and Meghan lost automatic state-funded protection in 2020 following their step back from royal life. Prince Harry filed multiple lawsuits challenging decisions by the RAVEC committee, which coordinates protection alongside the Home Office, the royal household, and the Metropolitan Police. Harry lost his court appeal against the Home Office in May 2025, after which he voiced deep reservations regarding safety during a BBC interview.
I can't imagine bringing my wife and children to the UK right now.
A subsequent security request submitted by the Duke during a July 2026 visit for an Invictus Games event was also rejected by authorities.
Political reaction and future arrangements
The planned move prompted questions in Westminster concerning the public costs of policing for the returning royals. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham dismissed suggestions that taxpayers would fund private security measures.
That is a matter for Harry and Meghan.
Burnham emphasized that protection decisions rest strictly with RAVEC and the Home Office rather than public debate. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the move, while spokespersons for the Duke and Duchess did not respond to media inquiries. With an estimated net worth of 60 million dollars, the couple will operate their household independently as private citizens.
