Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are set to begin a new chapter in their education as their parents, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, prepare to establish a home in the United Kingdom later this month.

According to reports, the children are expected to attend school in Britain starting in September. Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, have previously been educated close to their family home in Montecito, California. Their move to a British school will therefore represent a significant change for both children and will mark the first time either of them attends school in the country.

The exact location of the children’s new school has not been made public. Similarly, Harry and Meghan’s new residence in Britain will remain private. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly planning to establish their own independent household rather than move into a royal residence.

The decision means that Archie and Lilibet will spend more time in their father’s home country while remaining outside the official working structure of the Royal Family. Harry and Meghan are not expected to resume their previous duties as working royals, despite returning to Britain after several years of living in the United States.

King Charles reportedly became aware of the family’s plans on August 16. The monarch is said to be pleased about the possibility of spending more time with his son and grandchildren in a private family setting. The move could provide opportunities for the King to develop a closer relationship with Archie and Lilibet, whom he has seen only occasionally since Harry and Meghan left Britain.

For Archie, the connection to Britain is particularly significant because he was born there in 2019. Following his birth, Harry and Meghan brought their son to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, the home that had been provided to them by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The couple had carried out extensive renovations to the property before moving in ahead of Archie’s arrival. Frogmore Cottage subsequently became the family’s British base during their final period as working members of the Royal Family.

Lilibet, by contrast, was born in California in 2021. Her birth took place after Harry and Meghan had stepped away from official royal responsibilities and relocated permanently to the United States. As a result, she has spent virtually her entire life in America and is now preparing to experience life and education in Britain for the first time.

The Sussexes established their American home in Montecito in 2020 after leaving royal life behind. Their reported multimillion-dollar property, located in Santa Barbara County, became the family’s primary residence. The spacious home has remained their base throughout their years in California.

Despite their decision to spend an extended period in Britain, Harry and Meghan are reportedly not planning to sell their Montecito property. Instead, they intend to maintain the California residence while creating another home base in the United Kingdom. This arrangement would allow the family to continue maintaining connections to both countries.

Archie and Lilibet have previously visited Britain, but their trips have been limited. The children first returned to their father’s homeland in 2022, when Harry and Meghan traveled to the U.K. for celebrations marking Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.

The visit was particularly memorable for Lilibet because the family celebrated her first birthday at Frogmore Cottage. The small gathering also gave King Charles an opportunity to meet his granddaughter for the first time.

Although Meghan later returned to Britain for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in 2022 and Harry made a number of trips on his own, Archie and Lilibet largely remained in the United States. Security concerns were one of the principal reasons the couple had been reluctant to bring their children to Britain.

Harry has repeatedly expressed concerns about the level of protection available to his family when they visit the United Kingdom. His dispute over security arrangements has become one of the most prominent legal and personal issues surrounding his relationship with the British establishment.

Earlier this year, however, Harry was accompanied by Meghan and their children during a visit to Britain. The trip followed a period of public disagreement between Harry and representatives of the Palace regarding security and accommodation.

During their stay, the Sussex family traveled to Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, the King’s private country residence. There, Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet met King Charles and Queen Camilla.

The meeting was significant for several reasons. It was one of only a small number of occasions on which Harry had seen his father since Charles was diagnosed with cancer in 2024. More importantly, it allowed Charles to spend time with Archie and Lilibet after an absence of more than four years.

The reunion was viewed as a potentially meaningful moment for the family, particularly because the children have had limited opportunities to spend time with their British relatives. Their decision to attend school in Britain could provide the King with more regular opportunities to see his grandchildren.

The reported move also appears to signal that Harry’s concerns about his family’s security may have eased, at least to some extent. For years, the Duke has argued that the security arrangements available to him in Britain are inadequate for his wife and children.

His legal efforts to secure greater protection have been highly publicized, and the issue has influenced decisions about whether Archie and Lilibet should visit Britain. The family’s willingness to establish a longer-term presence in the country therefore represents a notable change in circumstances.

However, neither Harry nor Meghan has publicly provided detailed information about their security arrangements for the new period in Britain. Their representatives have reportedly declined to comment on the specific issue.

Privacy is also expected to remain a major consideration for the family. Harry and Meghan have consistently attempted to keep their children away from excessive media attention. The location of the children’s school and their new British residence is therefore likely to remain confidential.

The family’s approach to privacy differs in some respects from that of Prince William and Kate Middleton, whose children have regularly appeared at carefully managed royal events and official photographs. Harry and Meghan have generally taken a more protective approach toward Archie and Lilibet’s public exposure.

The transition to a British school could therefore require the family to establish new routines for managing media attention, security and the children’s everyday activities.

Meghan has previously spoken about helping her children adjust to returning to school after a summer break. She has shared practical ideas for making the transition easier, including leaving children encouraging handwritten messages and asking them about positive and difficult moments in their day.

Those suggestions may become particularly relevant as Archie and Lilibet prepare for a much larger transition. Moving from California to Britain involves more than simply changing schools. The children will be adapting to a different country, educational environment, culture and social setting.

At the same time, attending school in Britain could allow Archie and Lilibet to develop a stronger connection to their father’s homeland. They may also have more opportunities to spend time with members of the extended Royal Family.

For Harry and Meghan, the decision represents a major change after years of establishing an independent life in California. Their return does not necessarily mean that they are abandoning the United States or seeking to resume their former royal roles. Instead, the family appears to be creating a lifestyle that allows them to spend substantial time in both countries.

The decision to retain their Montecito home suggests that California will continue to be important to them. Britain, meanwhile, could become a second major base, particularly while Archie and Lilibet attend school there.

Ultimately, the children’s move to a British school may prove to be one of the most significant aspects of Harry and Meghan’s reported return. It represents a new stage in Archie and Lilibet’s lives and could also create more opportunities for them to build relationships with their British family.

After years of living thousands of miles away, the Sussex children will now have a much closer connection to the country where their father was born and raised. Whether the arrangement becomes permanent remains uncertain, but for now, Archie and Lilibet appear to be preparing for an important new chapter on British soil.