Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plan to leave the United States and move permanently back to Britain later in August 2026 to settle outside London.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex intend to establish a new home in a private, non-royal residence in the area surrounding London, but they have no plans to return to official royal duties.
Their planned relocation was initially reported by the Daily Telegraph and The Sun, and was subsequently confirmed by the BBC. The couple stepped back from their roles as senior working members of the British royal family in early 2020.
A central factor in the timing of their move involves their children, seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet, who have been enrolled to begin attending a British school in September.
King Charles informed of relocation plans
King Charles III was informed of the family's moving plans on Sunday. Prince William and Princess Catherine were also notified of the upcoming move.
According to a source familiar with developments, King Charles views the prospect of living closer to his younger son and two grandchildren positively. However, the exact location where the family will settle has not been publicly disclosed.
Sources emphasized that there are no current plans for Harry or Meghan to resume official roles as active working royals. Their return does not restore the official duties they held prior to their 2020 departure, and the couple remains outside the institutional core of the monarchy.
Private meeting at Highgrove
The move follows a private meeting between Harry, Meghan, and King Charles at the monarch's Highgrove residence in Gloucestershire in July.
The July visit, which included both Archie and Lilibet, marked the first time King Charles had seen his grandchildren in person in more than four years. Buckingham Palace described the gathering at the King's Gloucestershire home as a private family occasion, and sources noted that the relocation was not discussed during the visit.
Strained relations after royal exit
Relations between the couple and the royal family became severely strained following their move to California six years ago. That period was marked by high-profile public disputes, televised interviews, and the publication of Prince Harry's autobiography.
Harry and Meghan had not appeared together in Britain since September 2022, when they returned to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Their July meeting with the King and Queen Camilla was regarded as a significant step toward repairing family relationships.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is the younger son of King Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. He married American former actress Meghan Markle in 2018 at Windsor Castle, after which the couple carried out royal engagements before stepping down from official duties in early 2020.
