Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Set to Return to the UK: What This Means for Their Royal Status

A New Chapter for the Sussexes

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing to return to the United Kingdom with their two children later this month, while maintaining their status as non-working members of the royal family, as reported by various UK media outlets.

After stepping back from royal duties six years ago, Harry, the younger son of King Charles III, moved to the US with his family.

The couple, aged 41 and 45 respectively, is anticipated to settle in a private residence outside of London, according to late Wednesday reports.

Their children, seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet, are expected to start attending a British school at the beginning of the new term in September.

Buckingham Palace has refrained from commenting on matters concerning non-working royals.

However, it is believed that King Charles was informed of their relocation, which was first highlighted by 'The Daily Telegraph' and 'The Sun' on Sunday.

This topic was not broached during a recent family gathering at Charles' Highgrove estate, where he met his grandchildren after a significant period apart.

While the King is likely pleased to have more opportunities to connect with his younger son and family, their roles and status as private individuals will remain unchanged.

This aligns with the couple's expressed intentions and agreements since 2020, as there is no option for a 'half in and half out' approach regarding royal duties.

Neither the palace nor representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have issued official statements on this matter.

Harry has previously voiced serious concerns regarding his family's security, even pursuing legal measures to secure high-level armed protection despite his non-working royal status.

The UK Home Office has maintained that the government's protective security measures are 'rigorous and proportionate.'

A spokesperson stated, 'It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals' security.'

After losing a legal battle concerning security last year, Prince Harry expressed a desire to mend his relationship with his family.

'I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore... I don’t know how much longer my father has,' he remarked to the BBC, referring to the King's ongoing cancer treatment.

The Sussexes have experienced a rocky relationship with the royal family since their move to a mansion in Montecito, California, in 2020.

Harry, who is fifth in line for the British throne, has had a particularly tumultuous relationship with his older brother, Prince William.

In his memoir 'Spare', he revealed that he left Britain to escape the constraints of royal life and criticized palace officials for their insensitivity towards his wife's mental health.

There have also been allegations that at least one royal family member expressed racist sentiments during Meghan's pregnancy with their first child.

The palace described these claims as 'concerning' and famously stated that 'recollections may vary' and would be addressed privately.