Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are heading back to the UK after six years to be nearer to King Charles and to allow their children to strengthen bonds with family members, according to insiders.
Reason for Return
Insiders told Page Six that the duke wants to be closer to his father, 77, who is living with cancer, but the rift between Harry and Prince William remains. The Prince of Wales, heir to the throne, is reportedly refusing to communicate with his younger sibling.
Harry and Meghan are understood to have made the decision to leave their Montecito mansion in California earlier this month after six years of living across the Atlantic. The move comes just weeks after their July reunion with the King. Sources close to the Sussexes have insisted that the family intend to remain in the UK for an extended period rather than on a permanent basis.
A royal insider said: "I know that Charles is a big reason for their return."
Health Concerns and Family Ties
Harry, 41, reflected on his strained relationship with his father in an interview with the BBC last May. He said: "I don't know how much longer my father has." The King was first diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer in February 2024, just weeks before Kate Middleton announced her own diagnosis. While Kate was declared cancer-free last year, the monarch was confirmed in December to be moving into a precautionary phase of treatment.
However, King Charles' poor health is not the sole reason drawing the Sussexes back to British shores. Harry and Meghan are also reportedly keen for their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5 — who have been enrolled in a British school — to develop relationships with cousins and other relatives.
Another source revealed: "They have so many friends and family in the UK whom they remain so close to."
Ongoing Rift and Security Concerns
Despite this, there appears to be little chance of Archie and Lilibet spending time with their Wales cousins Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis due to William and Harry's ongoing rift. However, the Sussexes do share a close bond with Harry's first cousin Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank. The couple now have three children after Eugenie recently welcomed her baby girl, Adelaide. The family live part-time in Lisbon, Portugal, where Harry and Meghan also own a holiday home.
It is understood that the duke and duchess, who exited their royal roles in 2020, will not be putting their $14.5 million Montecito, California, property on the market, according to sources. While Harry has long fought against the British Home Office to secure the armed protection afforded to working senior royals, the security arrangements being made for his family remain unclear.
During his visit to England in July alongside his wife and children, upgraded security had yet to be granted — a factor which prevented them from accompanying him for the entirety of the trip. Instead, the three travelled from Portugal to meet Charles and Queen Camilla at the monarch's country retreat of Highgrove. Security continues to be Harry's primary concern. He told the BBC last year: "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point." He is currently awaiting the outcome of a security review by Government committee Ravec.
