Six years after stepping away from life as working royals and establishing a home in California, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing for a significant return to the United Kingdom.
But this isn’t being described as a permanent move back to Britain.
Sources cited by Page Six say the Duke and Duchess of Sussex intend to remain in the UK for an extended period, while retaining their home in Montecito, California. Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are also expected to attend school in Britain during the family’s stay.
King Charles Is a Major Reason for the Return
At the heart of Harry’s decision appears to be his relationship with his father.
King Charles III has been undergoing treatment following his cancer diagnosis in 2024. According to sources, Harry wants the opportunity to spend more time with his father, particularly after the two sides have shown signs of rebuilding their relationship.
Harry has previously spoken openly about the uncertainty surrounding his father’s health and his desire for reconciliation within the royal family.
A recent family visit also appears significant. Harry and Meghan met Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove during a European trip, with Archie and Lilibet joining their parents for the meeting.
The palace was reportedly informed about the Sussexes’ plans, and Charles is said to welcome the opportunity to spend more personal time with them. However, the couple’s position within the monarchy is not changing: Harry and Meghan will remain private individuals and non-working members of the royal family.
Archie and Lilibet Could Develop Stronger UK Family Ties
The move isn’t only about Harry’s relationship with Charles.
Harry and Meghan reportedly want Archie and Lilibet to have stronger relationships with relatives and family friends in Britain.
The Sussexes remain particularly close to Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank. Their connection is made easier by the families’ links to Portugal, where both Eugenie and the Sussexes spend time.
The situation is considerably more complicated when it comes to Prince William’s family.
Despite the apparent improvement between Harry and Charles, Page Six reports that Harry’s relationship with his older brother remains deeply strained. As things currently stand, there appears to be little expectation that Archie and Lilibet will suddenly develop a close relationship with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
What About Harry’s Security Concerns?
Security remains one of the biggest unresolved questions surrounding the family’s return.
Harry has repeatedly expressed concern about bringing Meghan and their children to Britain without the level of police protection he believes they require. In 2025, he even said publicly that he couldn’t envision bringing his family back to the UK under the circumstances at the time.
That makes the latest development particularly noteworthy.
Harry is still awaiting a review concerning his security arrangements, and it remains unclear what protection will be provided to the Sussex family during their extended stay. Security issues reportedly affected their previous visit, preventing Meghan and the children from accompanying Harry for its entire duration.
Are Harry and Meghan Moving Back Permanently?
For now, no.
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| What Is Changing | What Is Staying the Same |
|---|---|
| The Sussexes will spend an extended period in the UK | They will retain their California home |
| Archie and Lilibet are expected to attend school in Britain | Harry and Meghan remain non-working royals |
| The family can spend more time with King Charles | Their business activities will continue |
| The children can strengthen UK family connections | Relations with Prince William remain strained |
Their return therefore shouldn’t necessarily be viewed as a reversal of everything that happened in 2020.
Instead, it appears to represent a new arrangement: maintaining the independent life Harry and Meghan created after leaving royal duties while rebuilding some of the family connections they left behind.
The biggest change may ultimately be personal rather than royal. With Charles’s health providing a reminder that time with family isn’t unlimited, Harry appears increasingly determined to give both himself and his children a stronger connection to the family and country he left six years ago
