Prince Harry intends to continue his fight for taxpayer-funded security in the UK despite his family preparing to spend an extended period in Britain, according to reports. The Duke of Sussex is due to return to the UK with Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who are expected to start school in Britain in September.
Security concerns remain unresolved
However, Prince Harry's long-running security concerns remain unresolved and could ultimately influence how long the family stays in the country. PEOPLE Magazine reported that the Sussexes are planning to establish a private, nonroyal home base believed to be outside London, while retaining their £14 million home in Montecito, California. The family is expected to arrive in Britain in late August.
According to a source close to Prince Harry, the couple wants to spend more time in the UK and give their children the opportunity to experience life there. But Prince Harry's security battle remains a major issue.
Loss of automatic police protection
After stepping down from royal duties in 2020, Prince Harry lost his automatic taxpayer-funded police protection. While the Sussexes have armed private security in the US, private security guards in the UK are not legally permitted to carry firearms.
A source told PEOPLE that Prince Harry intends to "continue fighting for that," referring to the security arrangements he wants for himself and his family. Insiders have warned that the unresolved issue could eventually affect how long the family remains in Britain.
Change from previous position
Prince Harry has previously said that he does not feel able to bring Meghan and their children to the UK without adequate security arrangements. The family's planned return marks a significant change from Prince Harry's position last year. In May 2025, he told the BBC: "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point."
The decision to spend more time in Britain is understood to have been developing for around a year, with the children's school-age years and Prince Harry's links to the country among the factors behind the move. Prince Harry is also expected to spend significant time in the UK because of his remaining patronages and preparations for the Invictus Games in Birmingham in July 2027.
Legal battles and family relations
The couple's return is not being presented as a permanent move, with sources stressing that their Montecito home remains important to the family. Prince Harry has also continued to face legal battles in Britain. On August 21, Prince Harry, Elton John and five others were ordered to pay approximately $13 million towards the Daily Mail publisher's legal costs after losing a privacy case. The group could potentially face substantially higher costs if they appeal.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry's relationship with the Royal Family remains complicated. His relationship with King Charles has reportedly improved, with the King reuniting with Archie and Lilibet at Highgrove in July for the first time in more than four years. However, Prince Harry and Prince William are understood to remain estranged.
With Prince Harry and his family now preparing to spend significantly more time in Britain, the unresolved security dispute could become an increasingly important issue for the Sussexes as they attempt to establish their new life between the UK and US.
