Six years after stepping down as working royals, Prince Harry and Meghan are preparing to return to the United Kingdom, according to British press reports released late Wednesday.
In an unexpected development, the youngest son of King Charles III and his wife Meghan announced they intend to depart the United States by month’s end to settle in a private, non‑royal residence situated outside London, The Telegraph reported.
Multiple UK outlets, including the BBC, noted that the couple’s children—Prince Archie, aged seven, and Princess Lilibet, aged five—have already been enrolled at a British school for the upcoming September term.
Reports indicate that Harry and Meghan have secured a new home, though it will not be one of the royal estates.
The Press Association said King Charles was informed on Sunday that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to reside in the UK once again.
The monarch said he “welcomes the chance to see more of the family in a personal setting,” but emphasized that their status will remain unchanged and they will not resume working royal duties.
The announcement follows just weeks after Harry and Meghan’s early‑July visit to the UK with their children, during which they held a private meeting with the King.
Harry and Meghan have lived in California since 2020, and the children have not seen their grandfather since 2022.
Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, originally left Britain for North America in 2020 amid a growing rift with the royal family, a tension that intensified after Harry published his memoir Spare.
Harry added that he hopes to reconcile with his father, who was diagnosed with cancer two years ago and has been undergoing treatment; the specific type of cancer has not been disclosed.
Preparations for the July trip were hampered by contradictory reports, with sources close to Harry suggesting he would stay at Buckingham Palace—only for the palace to deny those claims.
Buckingham Palace stated that Harry had not accepted the invitation to reside at the sovereign’s official residence far enough in advance.
Harry has long held the media responsible for the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997 while attempting to evade paparazzi.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
