Harry and Meghan set to move back to Britain – everything we know

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to move back to Britain. The family intends to relocate from the US later this month to a private, non-royal residence thought to be outside London, The Telegraph revealed. It has also been reported that the couple’s children – Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5 – are both enrolled to start at a British school in September. The move comes over six years after Harry and Megan left the UK in search of financial independence. Here’s everything we know… Will Harry and Megan resume their duties? There are currently no plans for either the Duke or Duchess of Sussex to return to their official working roles within the Royal family. However, the move raises the possibility that the couple could return to their posts in the future. A 2021 review presented to the late Queen Elizabeth II confirmed the couple had been stood down as working royals. The then Queen said Harry and Megan could not maintain a “half-in, half-out” approach to royal duties while also pursuing commercial opportunities. The couple, though, believe they have since proved the “half-in, half-out” model does work. What has been the King’s reaction? King Charles was informed of the couple’s move on Sunday, however, it was reportedly not discussed when the Sussexes visited him at Highgrove in July. Sources say Charles is welcoming the opportunity to see more of the family in a private capacity (Photo: Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage) It is understood the King is pleased for the opportunity to see his family on a regular basis, both in a private and professional capacity. However, the King is clear that the Duke and Duchess’s status as non-working royals and private individuals, in keeping with their previously expressed wishes, will remain unchanged. Harry was already due to visit the UK in mid-September for his patronages including a WellChild Awards bash, and had been offered a room at Buckingham Palace. It is understood that both the Prince and Princess of Wales have also been informed of the move. What arrangements are being made? Security arrangements for the Duke and Duchess have not yet been disclosed. Until now, Harry had insisted that he would not feel safe bringing his family back to the UK without police protection, which the state has consistently denied him. In a statement, a Home Office spokesperson said: “The UK Government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate”. “It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.” Harry has previously said he would not feel safe in the UK without police protection (Photo: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images) It is understood the Home Secretary will not take part in any individual decision surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s security arrangements upon their return. The couple will reportedly retain their homes in Montecito, California and Portugal, while the Duchess will continue to run her lifestyle brand, As Ever, from their new base. Sources have said that the UK would be the Sussex’s primary home for an extended period, although it had not yet been decided whether to make the move permanent. The locations of the home and school have not been made public for privacy reasons, however, a source told The Sun that the family’s new accommodation is not a royal property. How did we get here? Harry and Megan were married in May 2018 and originally worked closely with Prince William and Princess Kate as senior members of the royal family. However, reports later emerged of a rift between the two couples and in March 2019, Buckingham Palace announced Harry and Meghan would set up their own, separate household. Around a year later, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they were scaling back their involvement with the royal family and would split their time between the UK and US. Harry and Megan then proceeded to make a series of bombshell allegations about the royal family, including claims some senior members were racist. The couple formally relinquished their royal titles, and Harry was stripped of his honorary military titles, with the then Queen Elizabeth confirming the decision in 2021. This story will be continuously updated…