Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have made the decision to return to the United Kingdom along with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, as confirmed by Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. The move back to the UK comes after the couple had stepped back from their roles as full-time royals in March 2020, subsequently relocating to California in the same year. Reports suggest that the family will be back in Britain in time for the children to begin school in September.
The decision for Harry and Meghan to return to the UK follows a period of strained relations with the Royal Family, arising from public criticism directed at the monarchy and family members. Particularly, Harry expressed his grievances towards his father, Prince Charles, and his brother, Prince William, leading to a breakdown in their relationship. In a previous interview on “The Late, Late Show with James Corden,” Harry mentioned the challenging environment they were in and his desire to protect his family by moving away.
One of the notable events during this period was Harry’s involvement in a privacy lawsuit against The Daily Mail, which he ultimately lost in July. The lawsuit alleged unethical behavior by the newspaper and its impact on Meghan’s well-being. Following the court ruling, Harry expressed disappointment with the outcome, criticizing the decision as unjust.
Despite the tensions, there have been signs of a thaw in relations between Harry and his father, King Charles. The family visited Britain in July, where the King had the chance to meet his grandchildren for the first time since 2022. King Charles, who had been undergoing cancer treatment, welcomed the news of Harry’s family relocating back to the UK, expressing his eagerness to spend more time with them in a personal setting.