Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Reportedly Planning UK Return with Children, Maintaining Montecito Estate

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and his wife Meghan Markle are reportedly planning a significant return to the United Kingdom with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, this month. This potential move comes more than six years after the couple stepped down from their roles as senior working members of the British royal family in early 2020, a decision that led to their relocation to Montecito, California. The couple, aged 41 and 45 respectively, are said to have already taken steps to facilitate this transition, including enrolling Archie, who is 7 years old, and Lilibet, who is 5 years old, in a British school. These institutions are expected to commence their academic year in September.

Reports from prominent U.K. publication The Telegraph and the American magazine People, citing anonymous insiders, suggest that Harry and Meghan intend to establish a private residence within the U.K. The exact location of this new U.K. base remains undisclosed, with speculation pointing to either a property near London or a more rural countryside setting. This would mark a significant change, as the couple has not had a dedicated British home base since 2023. In that year, they were required to relinquish their lease on Frogmore Cottage, a royal residence located in Windsor. Frogmore Cottage had served as their U.K. home following their marriage in 2018 and was a symbol of their initial establishment as a separate branch of the royal family.

Prince Harry's father, King Charles III, is understood to have been formally informed of the couple's intentions on August 16. According to reports, the King expressed his enthusiasm for the "opportunity to see more of the family in a private and personal capacity." Crucially, the current reports emphasize that this reported move does not signal any intention for Harry and Meghan to resume their former duties as working members of the royal family. King Charles has reportedly made it clear that the couple will continue to operate as private individuals, independent of royal obligations.

Despite these plans for a U.K. presence, sources close to the couple indicate that they are not planning to divest themselves of their substantial Montecito mansion. This property, valued at $14.65 million, was purchased in June 2020, shortly after their official departure from royal life. The mansion has since served as their primary residence and a base for their new ventures, including their production company, Archewell. The decision to secure a U.K. residence for their children's education, while retaining their California estate, suggests a strategy to maintain strong ties to both their heritage and their established life in the United States.