Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have returned to the United Kingdom for an extended stay starting this fall, and royal watchers say the move is driven largely by Harry’s desire for his children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, to connect with their British and royal heritage. The couple will not resume duties as working royals, but Archie and Lilibet have already started school in England.
A source told People magazine that Harry “wants them to understand the world he grew up in and where their family comes from.” Fox News Digital reached out to Archewell, which handles the Sussexes’ affairs, for comment.
Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield, host of “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered” on YouTube, said the shift highlights a tension in Harry’s public story. “Harry spent years telling us why he needed to escape royal life, said his father and brother were trapped, but now appears determined to make sure his children understand and retain their connection to it,” Schofield told Fox News Digital. “Perhaps with time and distance, he has realized that walking away from royal duties was much easier than walking away from the history, family and identity that came with them. Ultimately, Harry may finally be recognizing what has always seemed so obvious to the rest of us — being born a prince is an unbelievable privilege.”
British royals expert Hilary Fordwich said the desire itself is understandable, even if reconciliation is not guaranteed. “It is totally understandable that Harry wants Archie and Lilibet to grow up appreciating their British heritage, traditions and knowing their extended family,” Fordwich said. “But after all he has said and done, it’s highly unlikely the family will ever trust Harry or welcome them all back into the family fold.”
Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties and moved to California more than six years ago, later signing deals with Netflix and Spotify. In interviews and Harry’s memoir “Spare,” the couple said they left to escape the pressures of royal life and accused palace officials of failing to support Meghan’s mental health, while alleging a member of the royal family had made racist remarks while Meghan was pregnant with Archie.
Relations have been strained since, though Harry told the BBC in 2025 he wanted to reconcile with his family. He also said in that interview he could not see bringing Meghan and their children back to the U.K. permanently because of security concerns. King Charles III continues treatment for an undisclosed cancer diagnosis.
Rebuilding trust
British broadcaster Helena Chard said building relationships between Archie, Lilibet and their cousins may have factored into the decision to return. “Allegedly, this was one of the deciding factors in their U.K. return,” Chard said. “It is understandable at this point why the family will keep their distance from the Sussexes. Harry and Meghan, for their children’s sake, should work towards peace with the family. Not just a sweeping statement about reconciliation and doing the exact opposite. But Harry will absolutely want his children to understand their heritage and that they are part of the British royal family.”
A People magazine source said the move wasn’t easy for Meghan, who has enjoyed life in Montecito. “They’ve been planning this for some time, and they feel it’s the right thing for their family, but that doesn’t mean leaving was easy,” the insider said. “There’s excitement about what’s ahead too, especially for the kids. They’re really happy for them, and for everything they’ll get to experience.”
Schofield said Harry likely recognizes what his children stand to gain by being closer to the monarchy. “Archie and Lili are grandchildren of the king. Their grandfather is on the currency. Their uncle will be king. Their cousins are the future of the monarchy. They would be given privileges and opportunities in the U.K. that they simply wouldn’t attract in the States,” she said. But she added that Harry appears to want it on his own terms. “The monarchy has never operated that way. Harry may want his children to enjoy the history, relationships and privileges that come with being part of the royal family while maintaining the independence he chose in 2020. That tension has been at the heart of this story from the very beginning.”
Archie was still a baby when the family left the U.K. in 2020, and Lilibet was born in California in 2021. Before this year’s move, the children’s last U.K. visit was in July for a private trip that included a reunion with the king at Highgrove House. Before that, they hadn’t visited since Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.
A People source said Harry and his father spoke by phone during Harry’s first week back in the U.K., though the two have not met in person since the Sussexes returned on Aug. 26. Multiple royal experts told Fox News Digital that Harry and Prince William have not spoken since 2022.
“Harry cannot expect the children to repair what the adults have broken,” Schofield said. “Any meaningful relationships between the cousins would require trust between their parents first. Prince William is going to prioritize his three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and their privacy. If Harry wants those relationships for his children, rebuilding trust with William becomes increasingly important. And I do think that burden is on Harry. Any pressure on Prince William to reconcile is wildly unfair.”
Chard, however, said children can sometimes ease family tensions. “Serve as a bridge,” she said of the potential role Archie and Lilibet could play.
Schofield said the clock is ticking on how Harry frames his children’s connection to Britain. “Archie is seven now,” she said. “He is old enough to ask questions and understand that his family circumstances are unusual. At some point, Britain stops being a story Harry tells his children and becomes something they will want to experience and understand for themselves. Harry then has to decide whether he wants them connected simply to Britain or genuinely connected to the royal family.”
