Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Return to the U.K. With Their Children After Six Years in the U.S.

After six years living in the United States, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to Britain with their 7‑year‑old son Archie and 5‑year‑old daughter Lilibet. The couple will settle into a private residence in the United Kingdom this month, ahead of the September school year, according to a report by PEOPLE. They will keep their homes in Montecito, California, and in Portugal for vacation.

The news reached King Charles III over the weekend, and the monarch has expressed a desire to spend more time with the family. The move follows a summer visit to the U.K. in which the Sussexes reunited with their grandfather after a four‑year absence.

Harry and Meghan stepped back from senior royal duties in January 2020 and had been given a residence at Windsor by the late Queen Elizabeth II. They were asked to leave it after the publication of Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, in 2023. The book, ghostwritten by J. R. Moehringer, details Harry’s relationship with his father, the death of his mother, and his experiences in the military.

The couple have not announced any new royal duties. In a 2020 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duke of Sussex said he was frustrated by the intense media scrutiny that followed him and his wife in the United States, and he expressed concerns about the safety of his family.

Meghan’s career has continued to evolve since the couple left the United Kingdom. The former Suits star launched a lifestyle series, Love, Meghan, on Netflix under a $100 million first‑look deal that expires in 2025. The deal has produced a range of content, including movies, scripted series, documentaries, and children’s programs. In March 2021, Variety reported that Archewell Productions, the couple’s media arm, had largely become a platform for Meghan’s As Ever line of lifestyle and home products.

A Netflix spokesperson said in a statement that Meghan’s brand “continues to grow independently” and that the company was pleased to have helped launch the vision behind As Ever.

The Sussexes’ return to Britain comes amid a broader context of royal family dynamics. The couple’s decision to step back in 2020 was followed by a series of public statements and media appearances, including a Netflix documentary series, Harry & Meghan, in 2022. Their memoir, Spare, was released in 2023 and became one of the fastest‑selling non‑fiction books of all time.

While the couple will not resume official royal duties, the move may signal a shift in their personal and professional priorities. They have indicated that their children will attend schools in the United Kingdom, and the family’s presence in Britain may influence the media landscape and public perception of the royal family.

The exact date of the Sussexes’ arrival in the United Kingdom has not been disclosed, but the move is expected to take place before the start of the new school year in September. No official statement has been issued by the royal household regarding the transition.

The return of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to the U.K. with their children marks a significant change in the Sussexes’ public life. The couple’s decision to maintain residences in California and Portugal while relocating their family to Britain reflects a complex arrangement that balances personal, professional, and public considerations.

The next steps for the Sussexes remain unclear, but the move is likely to attract continued media attention and may influence future discussions about the role of former senior royals in the United Kingdom.