The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are a couple who never cease to surprise us. And their latest development has shaken the royal universe: Harry and Meghan will return to the United Kingdom next month with their two children, Archie and Lilibet. This surprising news comes six years after they left the British royal family and moved to California, citing financial reasons, a desire for privacy, and their dissatisfaction with life in the royal life.
Why have Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided now to leave behind their seemingly idyllic life in the sunny Montecito to return to the United Kingdom, where both – as they themselves have admitted – were not happy? According to British and American media, to prioritise family reconciliation, their children’s education, and their numerous charitable initiatives.
But this is not the only question hanging over the Sussexes’ decision, many of which remain unanswered, as the couple has not yet issued any statement clarifying their intentions. Below, we review the most important key points surrounding the unexpected news of Harry and Meghan’s homecoming.
Why are Harry and Meghan moving again?
The most striking aspect of this decision is Charles III’s health. The British monarch, who will turn 78 in November, was diagnosed with cancer in 2024. His son Harry said last year: “I don’t know how long my father has left,” referencing his illness. The Duke of Sussex had flown to the United Kingdom just hours after news of the King’s health became public, and they were seen again in September of last year.
In July, Harry took his wife and their children to visit Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House. According to The Telegraph, which broke the news of the imminent return of the Sussexes, the monarch is “naturally delighted” to be able to spend more time with his younger son and grandchildren. For its part, the BBC insists that this decision is not due to any problems in the United States and is driven by the couple’s desire to spend time in Europe and for their children to be educated in the United Kingdom.
Where will the Sussexes live?
At the moment, the exact location of Harry and Meghan’s new home has not been revealed, but it seems likely that they will not be living in London. It is most probable that they will swap their million-dollar mansion in California for a somewhat more modest setting in the British countryside. Rumor has it they will settle in the Cotswolds and Northampton areas, near the Spencer family estate, Althorp. The family will not return to their former residence at Frogmore Cottage – which they left in 2023 – nor will they reside in any Crown-owned property.
Will Harry and Meghan return as active members of the royal family?
On January 7, 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended an event at Canada House in London and, hours later, it was announced that they intended to renounce their duties as “senior members of the royal family” to lead a more private life away from Britain.
The Sussexes, during an NBA game in Los Angeles.
Part of the couple’s exit agreement, negotiated with the Windsors at the so-called Sandringham Summit on January 13 of that year, included the commitment that they could not use their titles for profit, something the couple has been accused of violating in the six years since then. They could not, as the late Queen Elizabeth II insisted, earn money and represent the Crown at the same time.
For the moment there are no plans for Harry and Meghan to resume their duties as active members of the royal family, according to The Telegraph. However, this situation could change in the future, depending on King Charles’s wishes and plans regarding his son and daughter-in-law.
How will Harry and Meghan be received in the United Kingdom?
The Sussexes are two of the least popular members of the British royal family according to polls. Meghan Markle ranks just above Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. However, there has been a slight upward trend in Prince Harry’s approval over the past year. A third of Britons now have a favorable view of him, up six points since May 2025. As for Meghan, only 22% of Britons have a positive opinion of the Duchess.
Nevertheless, Prince Harry’s recent visit to the United Kingdom in July was followed by large crowds of fans at his public appearances, while the couple’s four-day trip to Australia in April drew enormous interest. It remains to be seen whether Prince Harry and Meghan will receive a warm reception from the rest of the royal family, particularly Prince William and Kate Middleton.
King Charles, with his children at Balmoral.
Is this a permanent move?
Not at this time, but they plan to stay in the United Kingdom for what has been described as a “prolonged period.” Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have enrolled in a British school, which suggests that Harry and Meghan intend their move to the UK to be long-term or, at the very least, longer than another fleeting visit.
Will this decision finally reconcile Harry and William?
The tense relationship between the two brothers has been the subject of countless articles and debates in the years since the Sussexes left the United Kingdom. Although Prince Harry has taken steps to repair his relationship with his father, it is believed that he and Prince William have not spoken since 2022, when their grandmother died. The heir to the throne is allegedly furious about his brother’s decision to reveal his most intimate secrets in his controversial memoir.
Meanwhile, last May, Harry told the BBC that he would “love” to reconcile with his family. “There’s no point in carrying on fighting,” he said then, and added that “some members of the royal family” would never forgive him for writing his autobiography, or for “many other things.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales have already been informed of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s imminent return home. But for now there has been no comment from Kensington Palace, as such matters are likely to be treated as private family matters.
