Prince Harry and Meghan are relocating back to the United Kingdom after six years in the United States, bringing their children Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, to start school there in September. King Charles was informed of the move on Aug. 16, just weeks after hosting the family for their first full reunion with him in four years.
When exactly is this happening, and how did it come together?
The couple is expected to relocate within days, according to multiple reports, with the timeline driven partly by the UK school year starting in early September. Notably, the move itself was not discussed during the family’s visit to King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House in July, meaning the decision appears to have solidified in the weeks immediately following that reunion rather than being planned out during it.
Why does the July visit matter so much?
That gathering at Highgrove marked the first time King Charles had seen both of his grandchildren together in four years, and it came during a broader summer stretch that included the Sussexes promoting the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. Royal watchers have pointed to that visit as the likely turning point, even though the couple didn’t raise the idea of relocating while they were there. King Charles has said he welcomes the chance to see more of the family in a private, personal capacity going forward.
Will Harry and Meghan resume royal duties?
No. Both King Charles and sources close to the couple have been clear that Harry and Meghan will remain private individuals and non-working members of the royal family. They are not returning to official royal responsibilities, and the move is being described as a personal and family-driven decision rather than a step back toward royal life.
Where will they actually live?
The couple plans to live in a private, non-royal residence outside London, with the exact location being kept closely guarded. They will keep their existing homes in Montecito, California, and in Portugal, meaning Britain becomes an additional base rather than a full replacement for their life in the US. This marks their first UK residence since they were asked to vacate their previous home on the Windsor estate in 2023, following the release of Harry’s memoir, Spare.
What about their strained relationships with the rest of the family?
The relationship between Harry and his father has shown signs of a slow thaw in recent years, including a private meeting after King Charles’s cancer diagnosis and more frequent contact since. His relationship with his brother, Prince William, remains far more distant, and nothing in current reporting suggests the move is expected to resolve that tension quickly. Some royal insiders have described William as having little interest in reconciling for now, even as Harry has spoken about wanting to repair family ties while there’s still time.
What happens to their work in the US?
Harry and Meghan have no plans to wind down their production company, Archewell Productions, or Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, despite the relocation. Reports indicate the couple intends to keep developing new projects, including at least one adaptation tied to a memoir about Afghanistan War veterans, suggesting their business operations will continue running on both sides of the Atlantic rather than shifting entirely to the UK.
