Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are living in the U.K. again after six years in California, but whether Britain has become their permanent home is a more complicated question. The duke and duchess of Sussex returned to England with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in August 2026.
The royals planned to spend an “extended period” in Britain while remaining private individuals rather than returning to royal duties. Nearly two months later, the move looks increasingly substantial. The children are attending school in Britain, Harry has resumed work with U.K.-based charities and Meghan is reportedly exploring a return to acting.
On Oct. 15, the couple also made their first joint public appearance since relocating, visiting community organizations in Nottingham. Meghan told a well-wisher that it was “great to be back,” according to People. Still, neither Harry nor Meghan has announced that they are permanently abandoning their life in the United States.
Why Did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Move Back to the U.K.?
Harry has acknowledged that there were multiple factors behind the family’s unexpected return but has stopped short of providing a detailed explanation. Asked about the move during a September interview with Canadian broadcaster CTV, Harry said there were “lots of reasons,” according to ITV News. He declined to elaborate because he did not want the subject to distract from the veterans event he was attending.
What is known suggests the decision involved several parts of the family’s life coming together at once. Before the move, ABC News reported that school placements for Archie and Lilibet helped determine the timing. Harry’s work also gives him another reason to spend significant time in Britain.
His Invictus Games will take place in Birmingham in July 2027, and he told CTV that having his children settled in school allows him to focus more closely on preparations. Meghan’s professional plans have also been linked to the move, although that story has changed significantly since the family first returned.
Where Are Harry and Meghan Living, and What Happens to Montecito?
Harry and Meghan have established a private home in Britain rather than returning to a royal residence. The Associated Press reported in October that the family is living privately in the Cotswolds, while the precise location of their house has not been disclosed because of security concerns. That is an important distinction from their life before leaving royal duties. The Sussexes are not moving back into Frogmore Cottage or another residence controlled by the royal household.
Just as importantly, their return to Britain does not appear to mean they have cut their ties to California. When news of their move first emerged, ABC News reported that Harry and Meghan intended to keep their Montecito residence as well as their property in Portugal. The couple planned to maintain their California home while establishing a private U.K. base. That arrangement leaves open the possibility that the Sussexes are building a transatlantic lifestyle rather than permanently choosing Britain over the United States.
Archie and Lilibet Are Now Attending School in Britain
Perhaps the clearest indication that this is more than a short visit is the couple’s decision to enroll Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, in British schools. Their transition did not go entirely as planned. The children initially began attending one school after the family returned, but Harry and Meghan removed them only days into the term following concerns raised by their security team.
A spokesperson for the couple confirmed the change, while ITV News reported that the concerns involved the predictability and difficulties of the daily commute, including periods when the family’s security vehicles could become stuck in traffic. The change was related to security logistics rather than concerns about the school itself. The children subsequently started at another school. Harry has since said the adjustment is going well. The Duke said Archie and Lilibet were “happy in school” while discussing the family’s new life in September.
“The kids are happy in school and it gives me a chance to really focus on Invictus in Birmingham,” Harry told CTV. Settling both children into British education makes the move more consequential than one of the Sussexes’ previous extended trips to the U.K. However, even that does not prove the family intends to remain permanently.
Is Meghan Markle Really Returning to Acting?
Meghan’s possible acting comeback initially appeared to be one of the biggest clues about why the family was returning. In August, ITV News reported that the former “Suits” actress had been offered an on-screen role in Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series “The Gentlemen.” ITV reported that Harry and Meghan had already been considering a transatlantic move for months and that the acting opportunity helped tip the decision toward Britain. Reports about that particular role soon became more complicated.
Reuters subsequently reported that the proposed role had been dropped after the initial casting reports generated significant attention. Netflix has now officially confirmed that “The Gentlemen” will return for Season 3, but its own announcement has not confirmed Meghan as part of the cast. That does not mean her acting comeback is over. On Oct. 14, ITV News reported that a source said Meghan is currently “reading a lot of scripts.” The source described her priorities as her family and children first, followed by her As Ever business and then relaunching her acting career.
That reporting suggests the broader plan is no longer about one Netflix part. Meghan appears to be exploring multiple possibilities while maintaining her business and family responsibilities. It would therefore be premature to say the Sussexes moved to Britain specifically because Meghan secured a new acting role. The more defensible conclusion is that access to U.K.-based professional opportunities appears to have been one factor in a decision that had already been developing.
Does the Move Mean Harry and Meghan Are Returning to Royal Life?
No. Living in Britain again has not restored Harry and Meghan to their former positions as working members of the royal family. In September, the royal household took the unusual step of formally reiterating their status. ITV News reported that a letter from the Lord Chamberlain made clear there had been “no change” to the couple’s position.
The letter described their charitable activities as private endeavors and said their position was akin to that of “private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.” Their return could, however, create more opportunity for private contact with King Charles III. ABC News reported that Charles welcomed the prospect of seeing more of Harry, Meghan and his grandchildren when he learned of their plans.
The king and Queen Camilla also met Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet privately at Highgrove House on July 10, ABC News confirmed. That does not amount to a full reconciliation with the royal family. Harry’s relationship with Prince William in particular has remained strained, and neither Buckingham Palace nor the Sussexes has suggested that the move marks a return to official royal duties.
Their Oct. 15 Nottingham appearances illustrated that distinction. The engagements looked similar to the community visits Harry and Meghan once undertook as working royals, but they were carried out independently rather than on behalf of the king.
So, Are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Back in Britain Permanently?
For now, the most accurate answer is not necessarily. What began as reports of a future relocation is no longer hypothetical: Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet are living in Britain. They have a private home, their children are attending school there and the couple is increasingly resuming professional and charitable work in the country.
That suggests Britain is becoming a meaningful home base rather than simply somewhere they are visiting for a few months. But there is still no confirmation that the Sussexes intend to make the move permanent. The original reporting described their stay as an “extended period,” and sources said they had not settled on exactly how long they would remain. Their decision to retain their Montecito home and other property abroad also leaves them with the ability to divide their lives between countries.
Security could also affect how sustainable their new life in Britain becomes. ITV News reported in September that Harry’s security arrangements were being reviewed following the family’s return, with the issue taking on greater significance now that Archie and Lilibet are attending school in the country.
Their professional lives point in both directions as well. Harry has major commitments in Britain, while Meghan continues running an international business and exploring acting opportunities that may not be limited to the U.K. For now, the evidence points more clearly toward a long-term transatlantic arrangement than a definitive goodbye to California. Harry and Meghan are unquestionably back in Britain. Whether Britain is now their permanent home is the part of the story they have yet to answer.
