Prince Harry to return to UK with family after 6 years, enroll children in British schools

Prince Harry (41) and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, are reportedly planning to return to the United Kingdom with their children — nearly six years after leaving for the United States following a falling-out with the royal family.

British media outlets including the Daily Telegraph and the BBC reported Wednesday that Harry and Meghan plan to relocate to the UK with their son Prince Archie (7) and daughter Princess Lilibet (5). The couple is said to have arranged to live in a private, non-royal residence outside London.

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have already been enrolled in British schools and are expected to begin classes when the new term starts in September. King Charles III was informed of the couple's plans on Sunday.

Harry, the younger son of the late Princess Diana and King Charles III, abruptly declared his independence in January 2020 and stepped back from official royal duties.

In January 2023, Harry published his memoir "Spare," in which he alleged that his brother Prince William had physically assaulted him. The book also offered uncomfortably detailed accounts of the lives of royal figures — including William's wife Catherine and stepmother Camilla — and leveled sharp criticism at the British monarchy, severely straining his relationship with the royal family.

Meghan, in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, said an unnamed royal family member had asked a racist question about how dark Archie's skin might be. The couple subsequently relocated to Santa Barbara County, California, and spent nearly six years keeping their distance from the royal family.

King Charles's health has been a central factor behind the decision to return. Charles was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, after Harry and Meghan had already moved to North America. Harry has since signaled on multiple occasions his desire to reconcile with his father. In a BBC interview last year, he said he did not know how much time his father had left, adding that he wanted to make peace with his family and saw no reason to keep fighting.

Amid this, Harry's family visited the UK last month and spent time with King Charles — the first time the king had met his grandchildren in person in more than four years. Sources said Harry came away from the reunion feeling "encouraged and energized." The decision to relocate to Britain appears to have gained momentum rapidly after that visit.

However, some say it is too early to view the move as a full reconciliation with the royal family. Harry's relationship with his brother Prince William is still said to be cold, and some describe the return as only partial, with the brothers' grievances far from resolved.

The security question also remains unresolved. Harry has long maintained that bringing his family to the UK without adequate protection would not be safe. He took the British government to court over the level of official security he should receive but ultimately lost. There are no signs so far that his return will bring any change to the security arrangements in place.

An anonymous British government official said late Wednesday that Harry's return "appears possible," but called it "essentially a family matter."