Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are reportedly preparing to return to the United Kingdom later this year, marking a major change after approximately six years of living in the United States. Their departure from Britain followed a prolonged period of tension and distance between the couple and other members of the Royal family.

Harry and Meghan are expected to relocate with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The family is reportedly planning to live in a private, non-royal property outside London rather than move into a royal residence. Their children are also expected to begin attending a British school in September. Reports about the move first emerged in the British media before being picked up by several other news organizations.

The reported return comes after years of disagreement over Prince Harry’s security arrangements in Britain. Harry has repeatedly argued that the level of protection offered to him and his family was inadequate. His concerns became the subject of a legal battle after the British government changed the security arrangements provided to him following his decision with Meghan to step away from their positions as senior working members of the Royal family in 2020.

In May 2025, Harry lost an appeal challenging the decision regarding his security. The issue has remained particularly important to the Duke, who has argued that returning to Britain without adequate protection could put his family at risk.

When Prime Minister Andy Burnham was asked about the Sussexes’ reported return and whether the British government would cover their security costs, he described the situation as a private matter. Burnham offered a brief response, saying that he wished the couple well as they made their move. His comments suggested that the government was not publicly committing to any special arrangement for the family.

King Charles III was reportedly informed about Harry and Meghan’s plans earlier in the week. Despite the move, the couple are not expected to resume their former responsibilities as working members of the Royal family. Their return therefore appears to be primarily a personal and family decision rather than a restoration of their previous royal roles.

Harry and Meghan have visited Britain several times since relocating to the United States. During their most recent visit in July, they were reportedly welcomed by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove, the King’s private residence in Gloucestershire. Harry has also continued to visit Britain for events connected with the Invictus Games, the international sporting competition he founded for wounded, injured, and sick military personnel and veterans.

Neither Buckingham Palace nor the Sussexes have publicly confirmed the reported relocation. When journalists asked Harry about the speculation during an event in Washington, he reportedly declined to comment, saying that he had nothing to say on the matter.

Harry and Meghan’s Departure From Royal Life

Harry and Meghan began their married life in Britain after their wedding in May 2018. Initially, they carried out official royal engagements and were prominent members of the Royal family. However, increasing media attention, disagreements surrounding their roles, and concerns about their relationship with the wider royal institution gradually led them to reconsider their position.

By October 2019, the couple announced that they planned to take time away from their official responsibilities. Their decision became much more significant a few months later.

In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced that they intended to step back from their positions as senior members of the Royal family and work toward becoming financially independent. At the time, they said they hoped to divide their lives between Britain and North America. They also expressed a desire to give their family greater privacy while raising their son with an understanding of his royal heritage.

Queen Elizabeth II subsequently supported the couple’s decision after discussions with other members of the Royal family. Following a review of their arrangements, Buckingham Palace confirmed in February 2021 that Harry and Meghan would not return as working members of the monarchy. Although the decision represented a significant break from tradition, the Palace emphasized that they remained loved members of the family.

The situation attracted even greater international attention after Harry and Meghan spoke with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. During the highly publicized interview, the couple discussed their experiences within the Royal family, the pressures surrounding their departure, and their concerns about media treatment. Meghan described the institution surrounding the monarchy as “The Firm,” while Harry discussed what he believed were failures of support from people close to the Royal establishment.

The couple said that intense tabloid attention and harassment had contributed to their decision to leave Britain. Their relationship with the British press became one of the central themes of their public life in the United States. Meghan was frequently subjected to aggressive and sometimes racially charged coverage, while Harry became increasingly critical of the British media.

In 2023, Harry published his memoir, Spare, which provided further details about his childhood, his relationship with members of the Royal family, and some of the most difficult experiences of his life. The book attracted enormous attention and generated fresh debate about the Duke’s relationship with his family.

Since moving to the United States, Harry and Meghan have also developed several commercial and media projects. Their partnership with Netflix produced a number of programs, including a six-part documentary released in December 2022. The series examined their relationship, their experiences as working royals, and the circumstances that eventually led them to leave Britain.

Harry’s Continuing Conflict With the British Press

Harry’s relationship with the British press has also been shaped by a series of legal disputes. The Duke has argued for years that certain newspapers used unethical or illegal methods to obtain information about his private life.

His legal battles have produced mixed results. Most recently, Harry lost a lawsuit involving Associated Newspapers, the publisher of The Daily Mail. The court concluded that he had not provided sufficient evidence to establish the privacy violations he alleged.

However, Harry has also achieved significant victories in other cases. In January 2025, the publisher of The Sun agreed to pay him substantial damages after admitting to the use of unlawful methods to obtain information concerning his private life.

Earlier, in December 2023, Harry won a number of claims against Mirror Group Newspapers. The court found that information about him had been unlawfully gathered for newspaper stories, including through phone hacking and other intrusive techniques.

These cases have reinforced Harry’s long-standing criticism of sections of the British media. At the same time, his legal campaigns have contributed to an ongoing public debate about press freedom, privacy, and the rights of public figures.

Meghan’s Experience and Public Statements

Meghan has also spoken openly about the difficulties she experienced during her time as a working member of the Royal family. During her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, she described experiencing severe emotional distress while pregnant with Archie in 2019.

She said that she had experienced persistent thoughts about not wanting to remain alive and described the experience as frightening. Meghan also said that she had asked for assistance but believed she had not received the support she needed from the institution surrounding the Royal family.

The interview also included allegations about conversations within the Royal family concerning the possible skin color of Meghan and Harry’s future child. Harry said that such conversations had taken place before his marriage and indicated that there were signs of serious difficulties within the relationship between Meghan and members of the Royal household.

The couple’s relationship had already generated controversy before their wedding. In 2016, when Harry and Meghan began dating, Harry’s communications secretary issued a statement condemning racist and sexist attacks directed at Meghan. The statement criticized both sections of the media and online commentators for their treatment of her.

Nearly a decade later, the reported decision to return to Britain represents another important chapter in the Sussexes’ complicated relationship with the country they once called home. Their move could bring them physically closer to the Royal family while leaving their formal royal roles unchanged.

For Harry and Meghan, the return appears to reflect a desire to establish a new family life in Britain rather than restore the position they once held within the monarchy. Whether the move will reduce tensions with the Royal family, reignite media attention, or create a new balance between their private lives and public identities remains uncertain.