The Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to move back to Britain more than six years after they relocated to California, the Press Association understands.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the couple will move back to the United Kingdom later this month – making their home in a non-royal residence outside of London.
It is understood there will be no change to Harry and Meghan’s role and status as private individuals and non-working members of the royal family.
King Informed of Move
The King was first made aware of the move on Sunday and is understood to welcome the opportunity to see more of the family both in a private and personal capacity.
But their status will remain the same, with the couple not being offered a “half-in-half-out” option when it comes to their roles.
The Telegraph and Sun – which both broke the story on Wednesday night – report that the couple’s children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, are enrolled to start at British schools in September.
Background of Royal Departure
Harry and Meghan, who married at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in May 2018 to become the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were once dubbed part of the “Fab Four” with the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
But in March 2019, Buckingham Palace announced Harry and Meghan would set up their own household, breaking from the joint operation they had with William and Kate, amid media reports of rifts between the two couples.
And in January 2020, the duke and duchess announced they intended to step back as “senior” members of the royal family, become financially independent, still support the Queen but split their time between the UK and North America.
By March 2020, they had set up a permanent home in Los Angeles, California, and on March 31 of that month Harry and Meghan officially stepped down as senior royals and stopped using their HRH styles.
Recent Developments and Invictus Games
The shock announcement that the couple are moving back to Britain comes less than two months after the duke was trying to find a way to safely bring his wife and children to the UK to mark the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games in Birmingham.
At the end of June, he was still waiting for a review by the Risk Management Board (RMB), part of the process by which the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) rules on his security requirements – and he and his security detail were working behind the scenes to try to ensure the visit could take place safely.
Meghan was able to travel to the UK in July with Archie and Lilibet to join Harry when he came to the end of a week-long series of events promoting the games.
During the visit, the duke and duchess took their children to see the King for the first time in four years at his Highgrove home.
The Invictus Games take place from July 10-27 next year, with Birmingham expected to welcome around 550 wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, and their families, from 25 nations.
