Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing for a major change in family life, with reports saying the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will return to the United Kingdom later this month with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The reported move comes more than six years after the couple stepped away from senior royal duties and established their main family home in California.
According to reports published on August 19 and 20, 2026, the Sussex family intends to spend an extended period in Britain. Their children are expected to begin attending a British school in September. The family will reportedly live in a private, non-royal residence outside London rather than returning to an official royal property.
The development represents a significant change for Harry and Meghan. In March 2020, the couple left Britain and eventually settled in Montecito, California. Since then, their lives have largely been based in the United States, where they have pursued media, charitable and commercial projects.
Their return, however, does not mean they are resuming royal duties. Reports indicate that Harry and Meghan will continue to remain non-working members of the Royal Family. They are not expected to receive official royal roles or undertake the responsibilities associated with working royals.
One of the most important elements of the move concerns Archie and Lilibet. The children have grown up primarily in California and have had limited opportunities to spend extended periods in Britain. Their planned British education could give them a much closer connection to their father’s homeland and relatives.
The reported move also comes after a significant family reunion. Harry, Meghan and their children recently visited Britain and met King Charles III privately. Reports say the meeting gave the King an opportunity to spend time with his grandchildren after a long period in which family contact had been limited.
For Harry, returning to Britain could also make it easier to spend more time with his father and participate in UK-based charitable activities. Meghan is likewise expected to continue her professional work while living between the United Kingdom and the United States.
The Sussexes are also expected to retain their California home, meaning the move does not necessarily represent a complete departure from the American life they built after 2020. Reports indicate that the family will maintain its Montecito residence and its property in Portugal while establishing a British base.
The announcement has attracted enormous international attention because Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal life was one of the biggest developments involving the British monarchy in recent years. Their decision to return, even without resuming royal duties, is therefore being viewed as an important new chapter.
For now, the exact address of the family’s British residence and the name of the children’s school are being kept private. Security and privacy are likely to remain major considerations, particularly because Harry has previously raised concerns about protection for his family in Britain.
The move could ultimately become a bridge between two worlds: the California life Harry and Meghan established after leaving royal duties and the British family connections they left behind. Whether the arrangement becomes long-term or develops into something more permanent remains uncertain, but the return marks a dramatic shift in the Sussexes’ post-royal journey.