Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have returned to the UK with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, six years after stepping back from royal duties and relocating to the US.

The family arrived from California on Wednesday, 26 August, for an extended stay. Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, are set to begin school in Britain in September. The couple are expected to live in a private residence outside London rather than a royal property, while keeping the exact details of their home and the children’s school private.

Photo – Instagram

The move marks a major change for a family that has been based in California since 2020. However, their return to Britain does not mean Harry and Meghan are resuming official royal duties. They remain non-working members of the royal family and will continue their independent professional and charitable work.

For Archie and Lilibet, the move will mean spending more time in the country where their father was born and having greater access to Harry’s side of the family. Both children have spent most of their lives in the United States, making their upcoming move to a British school a significant change to their everyday lives.

Harry has previously spoken about wanting his children to maintain a connection with the UK. Their schooling will now give them an opportunity to spend more time in Britain while remaining connected to their life in California.

Photo – Instagram

The return also comes as Harry’s relationship with his father, King Charles, remains an important part of the story. The King was informed of the family’s plans on 16 August, according to reports, before their arrival in Britain. The move could give Charles more opportunities to see his grandchildren, although the family’s schedule is expected to remain private.

Harry’s relationship with his older brother, Prince William, remains strained. There has been no suggestion that the family’s move represents a return to official royal life or a change in Harry and Meghan’s position within the monarchy.

For Meghan, the UK now offers a very different experience from the one she had after marrying Harry in 2018. She is returning as a mother and an established businesswoman, with professional interests that remain largely independent of the Royal Family.

She is expected to continue her work with As Ever while spending time in Britain. The couple will also retain their Montecito home, allowing them to maintain their life in California alongside their new arrangements in the UK.

Photo – Instagram

Security remains an important consideration for Harry whenever he is in Britain. His long-running dispute over his security arrangements has continued since he and Meghan stepped down as working royals, and the couple have kept details of the family’s protection private.

Whether Britain will eventually become the family’s permanent home remains unclear. For now, however, the children’s education makes this return more significant than one of Harry and Meghan’s occasional visits.

The family is returning to Britain as private citizens, with Archie and Lilibet set to begin school there in September.

Prince Harry has stepped down from the board of African Parks after a decade-long association with the conservation organisation, ending his formal role with the charity as he prepares for an extended return to the UK with Meghan and their children.

Harry’s departure comes as African Parks undergoes a governance refresh. The organisation announced on 19 August that he would conclude his tenure following 10 years with the charity, while welcoming two new board members. His spokesperson said the Duke of Sussex remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission and is proud of his work with the organisation.

Credit: Getty Images

Harry first became involved with African Parks in Malawi in July 2016, when he joined the team working on the first phase of its 500 Elephants project. He went on to become president in 2017, a position he held for six years before joining the board of directors in 2023.

His departure follows scrutiny of African Parks over human rights abuses involving rangers at Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Republic of the Congo. An independent investigation commissioned by the organisation examined allegations involving members of the Indigenous Baka community, including beatings, torture and sexual violence. African Parks acknowledged in 2025 that abuses had occurred in some incidents and said the investigation had identified failures in its systems and processes. The organisation subsequently pledged to address the shortcomings.

Photo: X/@ Kensington Palace

The findings led to renewed criticism of Harry’s association with the charity. Survival International, which had raised concerns about alleged abuses against the Baka community, called on him to leave African Parks. The group has argued that conservation efforts should not restrict Indigenous communities from accessing their ancestral lands.

Harry’s exit has not been linked publicly to the allegations. African Parks has presented his departure as part of its board changes, while his spokesperson has said his commitment to conservation in Africa continues. The charity has also said it has strengthened its safeguarding processes following the independent investigation.

Credit: Instagram/@Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

The timing of Harry’s departure also comes as he and Meghan prepare to spend an extended period in the UK with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The couple are expected to retain their home in California while spending more time in Britain. Reports have said the children are expected to attend school in the UK.

Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior working royals in 2020 and subsequently moved to California. While Harry’s return to Britain will increase his physical presence in the country, neither he nor Meghan is returning to official working roles within the Royal Family.

Photo: PA

His departure from African Parks follows his exit from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, in 2025. That departure came after a dispute between the charity’s board and its former chair, Sophie Chandauka.

For African Parks, Harry’s departure is part of a wider change to its board. For the Duke, it marks the end of a formal conservation role that began with an elephant relocation project in Malawi and continued through six years as president and three years as a board member. His spokesperson has made clear that leaving the board does not mean leaving the cause behind.