Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the throne, and his wife Meghan Markle are set to return to the UK from the United States, according to reports from local media including the Daily Telegraph and BBC on August 20.
According to foreign media, the couple plans to leave their home in Montecito, near Los Angeles, at the end of this month and move to a private residence on the outskirts of London. The primary reason cited for their return is their children's education. Their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, have already been registered to attend school in the UK starting in September.
The news of the couple's return to the UK was reportedly a surprise to King Charles, who learned of it only on August 16. The BBC reported that the King was unaware of their plans until last week but welcomed the opportunity to meet Harry's family in private and personal settings.
Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in early 2020 when they left the UK and settled in California. Since then, they have had public disagreements with the royal family, alleging that senior members raised concerns about the skin color of their child.
A pivotal moment leading to their return was King Charles's visit with Harry's family in July, during which Harry visited the birthplace of his late mother, Princess Diana. This marked the first time in over four years that Charles met Archie and Lilibet. However, the Telegraph noted that discussions about Harry's family's return did not take place during this meeting.
There is also interest in the ongoing tensions between Harry and his brother, Prince William. The Telegraph pointed out that while Harry has begun to rebuild his relationship with King Charles through phone calls in recent months, the rift with William remains deep. The two brothers have not spoken for several years, and William and his wife reportedly feel deeply betrayed by revelations from Harry and Meghan's book and television interviews.
It remains uncertain whether Harry and Meghan will resume any official roles within the royal family. The BBC stated that it is expected there will be no change to their official status, and they will maintain their personal status as non-royals. The couple agreed to stop using the title 'Your Royal Highness' and not to represent the royal family or receive public funding when they stepped back from royal duties in 2020. Instead, they are free to earn their own income.
Regarding Archie and Lilibet's enrollment in UK schools, Lucy Powell, the UK Education Secretary, expressed a welcoming stance. She noted that she learned about Harry and Meghan's return through social media and news, and described the children's entry into UK schools in September as a 'great endorsement' of the British education system. However, Powell expressed skepticism about the likelihood of the royal children attending public schools.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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