Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are planning to relocate from the United States to Britain later this month, Buckingham Palace confirmed Wednesday, August 19 — six years after the couple stepped down as working royals and left the UK for North America.
Where They're Moving and What's Confirmed
According to CNN, the couple is planning to relocate to a private residence outside London. Citing UK newspaper The Telegraph, reports indicate the couple has enrolled their children — Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5 — in British schools ahead of the coming academic term. Buckingham Palace confirmed the broader move to CBC News, while multiple outlets, including CNN and France24, reported the relocation is expected to happen within weeks.
How King Charles Learned of the Plans
According to CNN, King Charles was first made aware of the relocation plans on Sunday — notably indicating the move was not raised or discussed during the family's visit to the UK the previous month. Sources told CNN that the King "welcomes the opportunity to see more of the Sussex family in a private and personal capacity," while making clear there will be no change to Harry and Meghan's status as private individuals and non-working members of the royal family.
A Notable Shift From Recent Reporting
The confirmed move marks a striking reversal from reporting just months earlier. As recently as this year, BBC sources close to Prince Harry indicated he was not planning a permanent move back to the UK, citing ongoing concerns over his and his family's security in Britain, along with reluctance to give up the philanthropic and business projects the couple has built while based in the US. That earlier reporting described a prince "restless in California" but ultimately expected to remain based in the United States, with visits to the UK rather than a full relocation.
Recent Family Reconciliation Signs
The relocation follows a notable warming in relations between Harry and his father. During a family visit in July, King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted Harry, Meghan, and their children at Highgrove House, the King's private country residence in Gloucestershire — marking the first time in four years that the King had seen the whole family together. Harry has made several trips back to the UK in recent years, including for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022 and King Charles's coronation the following year, with a September 2025 visit marking Harry's first in-person meeting with his father in 19 months at the time.
Background: Why They Left
Harry and Meghan, who have lived in California since stepping back from royal duties, left the UK for North America in 2020 following a public falling-out with the royal family. At the time, the couple cited tabloid intrusion, racism within British institutions, online abuse, and complex family dynamics as key reasons behind their departure — a rupture that has defined much of the public narrative around the Sussexes in the years since.
What This Means Going Forward
With the relocation reportedly just weeks away and the children already enrolled in British schools, the move signals a significant, tangible shift in the Sussexes' relationship with the UK and the royal family — even as officials stress their status as private, non-working royals remains unchanged. For continuing coverage, see CNN's report.
Whether this marks a full and lasting return or a more gradual step toward rebuilding ties with the royal family, Harry and Meghan's decision to relocate their children and household back to Britain represents one of the most significant developments in the Sussexes' post-royal story since their departure six years ago.