Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are adjusting to a new normal after their move back to Britain and that includes finding a new school for their two children.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have pulled son Archie, 7, and daughter Lilibet, 5, from the school they enrolled them in just weeks ago, following discussions with their private security detail about the challenges of safely navigating the school run.
Why the family made the switch
A spokesperson for the couple said the decision stemmed from conversations between the family and their protection team about the practical realities of their day to day routine, not any issue with the school itself. According to the BBC, the drop off required two vehicles, and the couple’s security personnel determined it was difficult to keep both cars together while moving through traffic.
The spokesperson emphasized that Harry and Meghan remain thankful to the teachers and staff at the school for the warmth and support shown to their family during their brief time there. Neither the name nor the location of the school old or new has been made public, in keeping with the family’s efforts to shield their children’s day to day lives from public scrutiny.
A bigger security question looms
The school change comes amid a broader, ongoing debate over how and who pays for the Sussexes protection while they’re in the U.K. Two people familiar with the matter, who were not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed that taxpayer funded security arrangements for the family are currently under review.
The issue is a familiar one for Harry, who has spent years in a legal battle with the British government over the level of protection he and his family receive during U.K. visits. Since stepping away from royal duties in 2020, he has argued he should retain the same automatic security afforded to working royals, including armed protection officers with access to government intelligence.
Harry previously offered to personally cover the cost of that protection, but officials turned down the proposal, citing concerns that allowing wealthy individuals to pay for police coverage would set a troubling precedent.
Now that the family has relocated to Britain full time, the debate has reignited. The Royal and VIP Executive Committee, known as Ravec, which coordinates security for the royal family and other high profile figures, reportedly convened last week to revisit the matter, according to the BBC. The Home Office, which oversees the committee, has not released further details on the discussions.
Meghan shares a softer side of the transition
While security logistics play out behind the scenes, Meghan has used social media to showcase a warmer version of the family’s return to the U.K. after six years based in California. Recent posts have included images of the couple on a countryside walk, Lilibet pedaling a bike and Archie sprinting down a path.
This week, Meghan marked Harry’s 42nd birthday with a tribute on Instagram, sharing a collection of family photos alongside an affectionate caption celebrating her husband.
How other royals handle the school run
Security experts note that other members of the royal family have managed similar logistics without the need for a multivehicle convoy. Dai Davies, who once led royal protection efforts in the 1990s, pointed to Prince William’s children as an example, noting that Kate Middleton frequently handles school drop off herself, accompanied by a single protection officer rather than a full motorcade.
As Harry and Meghan settle into their new life in Britain, the family appears to be recalibrating how to balance normalcy for their children with the security demands that come with royal life even from outside official royal duties.
