Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are returning to the United Kingdom with their children, as confirmed by Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. The Telegraph and The Sun were the first to report this development. The royal couple, along with their children Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, will be relocating to the UK but will continue to live as private individuals, according to the Palace. Although the exact date of their return was not disclosed, media sources suggest it will be in time for the children to commence school in September.
In March 2020, Harry and Meghan stepped back from their full-time royal duties and departed from the UK. Subsequently, they moved to California after a brief stay in Canada. The decision to return to the UK comes amidst strained relations with the Royal Family, following public criticisms the couple made about the monarchy. Harry, in particular, had made disparaging remarks about his father, Prince Charles, and his brother, Prince William, resulting in a breakdown in their relationship.
During an interview on The Late Late Show with James Corden in February 2021, Harry expressed the challenges he faced within the royal environment and his determination to prioritize his family’s well-being. He also highlighted his disappointment with the British government’s alteration of his security arrangements, which impeded his ability to bring his children to the UK. Despite these difficulties, Harry emphasized that he did not abandon his responsibilities and had no intention of doing so.
In other news, Harry was one of several prominent figures who lost a privacy lawsuit against the publisher of The Daily Mail in July. The lawsuit, which alleged unlawful behavior, was unsuccessful, prompting Harry to criticize the court’s decision as biased. He had previously testified that the tabloid had caused significant distress to Meghan.
On a more positive note, relations with King Charles seemed to be improving, as evidenced by a meeting between father and son last September after a 20-month gap. The entire family visited Britain in July, allowing King Charles to reunite with his grandchildren for the first time since 2022. The Palace confirmed that the King was informed of Harry’s relocation plans and expressed eagerness to spend more time with the Sussex family in a private capacity.
Furthermore, King Charles, who had been diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, showed positive progress after treatment, prompting a shift to a precautionary phase in December of the same year.
Overall, the return of Prince Harry and Meghan to the UK marks a significant development in their ongoing journey as public figures navigating complex relationships within the Royal Family.