Key Points
- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to relocate from the United States to the United Kingdom later this month.
- Prince Archie, aged seven, and Princess Lilibet, aged five, have been enrolled to start at a British school in September.
- The family will reside at a private, non-royal residence located outside London.
- King Charles III was informed of the move on Sunday and welcomes seeing more of the family in a private capacity.
- There are no plans for Prince Harry or Meghan to resume official duties as working members of the Royal Family.
- The couple will retain their private individual status, keeping their home in Montecito, California, and their vacation property in Portugal.
London, UK (Bristol Express News) August 20, 2026 — The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to move back to the United Kingdom later this month, August 20, 2026, establishing a base in a private, non-royal residence outside London six years after stepping back from official duties.
As initially reported by the Daily Telegraph and The Sun, and subsequently confirmed by BBC News, Prince Harry and Meghan intend to relocate from their home in California. The couple’s children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, have been enrolled to begin attending a British school in September. King Charles III was informed of the planned relocation on Sunday. However, it is understood that there are currently no plans for either Prince Harry or Meghan to resume their official roles as working members of the Royal Family, and they will remain private individuals.
What Are the Immediate Details Surrounding the Sussexes’ Decision to Relocate?
As detailed by royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell of BBC News, the decision to establish a residence in Great Britain marks a notable change in the family’s geographical base, though their official status within the monarchy remains unchanged. According to reports by Gordon Rayner of the Daily Telegraph, the move will see the family base themselves in a private property situated outside London rather than on a royal estate.
According to reporting by BBC News, the Sussexes and their children previously visited King Charles III at his Highgrove home in Gloucestershire in July this year. However, it is understood that the family’s relocation plans were not discussed during that meeting. The BBC understands that whilst the King was unaware of the move prior to last weekend, he welcomes the opportunity to spend more time with the Sussex family in a personal and private capacity. Reports from People Magazine also note that Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, were formally notified of the upcoming move.
As reported by People Magazine, the family plans to retain their primary home in Montecito, California, alongside a vacation residence in Portugal, indicating a flexible transatlantic routine rather than a complete severance from their American operations.
What Factors and Statements Preceded the Decision to Return?
The relationship between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the wider Royal Family has undergone complex developments since the couple stepped down as senior working royals in March 2020.
As reported by The Guardian, Prince Harry previously raised concerns regarding his family’s safety following changes to his taxpayer-funded police protection. Following a legal challenge regarding these security arrangements, Prince Harry stated during an interview with the BBC:
“I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point”.
During the same BBC interview, Prince Harry added:
“I would love a reconciliation… There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family”.
As documented by The Washington Post, tensions had previously escalated following a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey and the publication of Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, in 2023. However, contact between Prince Harry and King Charles III increased following the King’s public announcement of his cancer diagnosis, leading to a series of brief meetings and engagements over the subsequent two years.
What Is the Background of This Particular Development?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex formally stepped back from their roles as senior working members of the Royal Family in January 2020, seeking financial independence and relief from intense press scrutiny. Following their departure, the couple established a residence in Montecito, California, launching various commercial and philanthropic ventures. Under the agreement finalized at Sandringham in early 2020, the couple agreed to surrender their official royal duties, patronages, and military titles, while relinquishing public funding and the use of their “His/Her Royal Highness” titles in commercial activities.
In June 2023, the couple officially vacated Frogmore Cottage, their former official residence on the Windsor estate, leaving them without a permanent base in the United Kingdom during subsequent visits. Throughout this period, Prince Harry engaged in legal proceedings against the Home Office regarding Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) security protocol decisions, alongside high-profile litigation against several British newspaper publishers. The move to enroll Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in a British school represents the first long-term, non-official residence establishment for the family in the UK since their initial departure.
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How Might This Development Affect the British Public and Royal Institutions?
The move by Prince Harry and Meghan to establish a residential base in the UK is expected to influence public perception, media coverage, and internal royal dynamics.
For the British public and royal commentators, the presence of the Sussex family in an independent UK residence introduces a hybrid model of royal affiliation. By maintaining private individual status while residing in the UK, the couple creates a precedent where prominent figures associated with the royal bloodline live locally without performing public engagements or drawing from the Sovereign Grant.
For the media and regional communities, the move may prompt increased press interest around the private residence and the educational institution attended by the children, putting existing privacy laws and media guidelines to the test. Institutionally, proximity between the monarch and his grandchildren may facilitate closer private family relations, though observers note that formal integration into the public work of the monarchy remains ruled out.
