Story summary
*Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to return to the UK is met with mixed reactions*
The couple plans to move back to Britain after six years in California, with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet set to start school there. The news has been reported by various outlets, including *The Telegraph*, *BBC*, and *People*.
*Reasons for the move are unclear, but sources suggest it's partly due to tensions with President Donald Trump*
Meghan Markle, 45, and Prince Harry, 41, have been vocal about their dislike of the current White House administration. According to *The Sun*, the couple will return to Britain for an extended period as their children start school in September.
*King Charles has welcomed the news but made it clear that their status as non-working royals remains unchanged*
The monarch's spokesperson confirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan will not live in a royal residence, and their decision is seen as a personal one rather than a change in their official status.
*Trump's MAGA allies have mocked the couple on social media, with some making unfounded claims about Meghan Markle's motivations for leaving the US*
Katie Miller, wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, commented on X that Meghan "always just wanted to be a celebrity." However, there is no evidence to support this claim.
*The move has also sparked speculation about the couple's future plans and whether they will continue to pursue their independent roles in the US*
Prince Harry and Meghan have been vocal about their desire for independence from the royal family and the British press. Their decision to return to Britain may indicate a desire to reconnect with their roots or seek new opportunities.
*The couple's decision has also raised questions about their use of private jets and other environmental concerns*
As they prepare to move back to Britain, Prince Harry and Meghan are likely to face scrutiny over their carbon footprint and other environmental issues. Their decision to prioritize their children's education in the UK may be seen as a positive step towards reducing their impact on the environment.
*The town of Montecito, where the couple has lived for six years, is also bidding farewell to the royal duo*
As Prince Harry and Meghan prepare to leave California behind, the town of Montecito is reflecting on its whirlwind stint in the global spotlight. While some residents may be sad to see them go, others are likely to welcome the return of peace and quiet to the area.
Sources
*The Telegraph*: "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moving back to UK with children"
*BBC*: "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'returning to UK' for extended period"
*People*: "Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Moving Back to U.K. for Children's School Year"
*The Sun*: "Meghan Markle and Prince Harry 'moving back to Britain' because they don't like President Trump"
*The Guardian*: "We'll never be royals: the California town where Prince Harry and Meghan lived says goodbye"
Written for “Prince Harry Returns to UK” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 10 other(s) covering the same event.
Prince Harry and Meghan to move back to Britain
LONDON/LOS ANGELES, Aug 20 -
asserted
Harry → move → Britain
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan plan to move back to Britain this month, six years after they stepped down from their royal duties and relocated to the U.S., a source close to the couple said.
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source → plan → couple
The surprise move comes after the couple spent recent years repeatedly criticising the royal family and lambasting the British press, saying the tabloids had made their lives hell and they wanted to carve out independent roles for themselves.
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they → come → themselves
The couple, known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were moving with Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, from California to Britain for an extended period and the children would begin school there in September, the person close to them said, confirming details that were reported in the media.
King Charles, who welcomed having his youngest son and his family closer, found out about the move on Sunday, British media reports said.
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reports → know → Sunday
Harry and Meghan will not live in a royal residence and will remain non-working royals as agreed with the late Queen Elizabeth when they left in March 2020.
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they → live → March
Harry's spokesperson and Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
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spokesperson → decline → ?
COUPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT PRESS COVERAGE
Harry married Meghan Markle in a ceremony at Windsor Castle in 2018, and it was hoped his union with the former actor would reinvigorate the historic institution for a new generation.
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union → complain → generation
But it was not long before cracks in their relationship with the rest of the royal family began to emerge.
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cracks → begin → family
Two years later in March 2020, they announced they would step down from official duties and move to the U.S., saying they wanted to move away from the intense press scrutiny they faced in Britain.
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they → announce → Britain
They settled in the wealthy seaside enclave of Montecito, near Santa Barbara, California, with media reports putting the 2020 purchase price of their 16-bedroom home at $14.7 million.
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reports → settle → million
In the following years, Harry, now 41, and Meghan, 45, repeatedly criticised the royal family and the monarchy in TV interviews, a Netflix documentary series and, most notably, in Harry's memoir "Spare".
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Harry → follow → memoir
During a 2021 interview the couple gave to Oprah Winfrey, Meghan, whose mother is Black, said an unnamed member of the family had asked how dark their son Archie’s skin might be.
uncertain
skin → give → family
Heir-to-the-throne Prince William, Harry's elder brother, responded by denying that Britain’s royals were racist.
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royals → respond → throne
Harry had some particularly barbed comments for his father, Charles, and Prince William, leading to a total breakdown in their relationship.
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Harry → have → relationship
Harry was also angry the British government changed his security arrangements and said the lack of automatic police protection meant he was unable to bring his children to Britain.
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he → change → Britain
But relations with the king appeared to be thawing in September, and father and son met briefly for the first time in 20 months.
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father → appear → months
Charles was diagnosed with an unspecified type of cancer in 2024.
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Charles → diagnose → 2024
He announced on television last December that he had responded "exceptionally well" to treatment.
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he → announce → treatment
Last month, Harry, Meghan and their children visited Britain, and Charles saw his grandchildren for the first time since 2022.
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Charles → visit → 2022
However, while the king welcomed the chance to see more of the Sussexes, he only became aware of the couple's plans to return to Britain on Sunday.
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he → welcome → Sunday
While Harry and the king's relationship might have improved, he is still barely on speaking terms with his brother.
uncertain
he → improve → brother
British minister Lucy Powell, talking to the BBC on Thursday, said it was good news, adding that she hoped "the reconciliation with the family continues because I think that's good for the country ... to send out that signal".
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that → talk → signal
Harry and Meghan embarked on several media ventures from their California home, signing multi-million-dollar deals with Spotify for a podcast series and with Netflix for programming including a lifestyle show hosted by Meghan.
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Harry → embark → Meghan
The projects produced mixed results.
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projects → produce → results
Harry's tell-all book was a bestseller, but their podcast deal ended and Meghan's Netflix show was not renewed for a third season.
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show → tell → season
In recent months Meghan has published an increasing number of photographs on her Instagram account, showing Harry and their children and their U.S. life, often taken from behind the children to hide their faces.
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Meghan → publish → faces
"I think they didn't achieve the superstar status they wanted," said Dominic Patten, executive editor of Hollywood publication Deadline.com.
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Patten → think → publication
They did, however, keep the public interested in their story in a town full of big-name celebrities, Patten said.
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Patten → keep → celebrities
"He and Meghan have kept that flame aflutter," Patten said.
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Patten → keep → flame
"If you look at how quickly Hollywood careers can burn out, on that level, by that metric, they've been successful."
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they → look → metric
