Attending school in America is fine … for now. Prince Harry reportedly doesn’t believe that’s a good long-term solution, though. Royal insiders shared that the Duke of Sussex reportedly is “very likely” to enroll his children Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, in a UK school when they get older, despite wife Meghan Markle’s previous objections to that very idea.
Even though the Sussexes gave up their titles and stepped down as working royal several years ago, rumors have spread that Prince Harry is interested in keeping the door open for his kids. One way he might do that is by enrolling them in a UK school.
More from SheKnows
Grant Harrold, former royal butler to King Charles III, shared that Harry is “quite keen” for his children to experience British schooling in a new interview with Study Dog, per Hello! “It’s very likely and completely possible,” Harrold explained about Archie and Lilibet attending school across the pond.
Britain’s Meghan, Duchess of Sussexand Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrive at the 2023 Invictus Games in Duesseldorf, western Germany on September 13, 2023. The Invictus Games, an international sports competition for wounded soldiers founded by British royal Prince Harry in 2014 run from September 9 to 16, 2023 in Duesseldorf. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP) (Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)
“If they have their younger education in America, I’m sure their father will be quite keen to have a bit of a British education,” he continued. “But then it depends on how the relationship is with the rest of the family when the time comes.”
Previously, Markle shared that she did not want her kids going to school in Britain. In a 2022 interview with The Cut, Markle said that she would not want Archie to go to school in the UK as she wouldn’t be able to go to school pickup and drop-off without paparazzi swarming her.
“Sorry,” Meghan said, per Hello! “I have a problem with that. That doesn’t make me obsessed with privacy. That makes me a strong and good parent protecting my child.”
Last month, the Guardian reported that Prince Harry wanted his kids to have the opportunity to become working royals in the future if they wanted. According to the outlet, “Prince Harry wants to keep the HRH [His/Her Royal Highness] titles for his children so that when they grow older they can decide for themselves whether they want to become working royals, or stay out of public life.”
However, in an interview with The Daily Beast, a source close to Prince William (second in line to the throne) revealed how unlikely that is. “William obviously isn’t going to hire Archie and Lilibet,” the insider said. “This is just trolling on the part of Harry and Meghan. … The idea that somehow having a vestigial HRH as a baby later entitles you to be a working royal is beyond parody, even for them.”
If Archie and Lilibet do go to school in the UK, Archie could follow in his dad’s footsteps and attend Eton College, in which Prince Harry enrolled at 13 years old.
DUESSELDORF, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 16: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 at Merkur Spiel-Arena on September 16, 2023 in Duesseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation)
Previously, royal insider Tom Quinn told Daily Express that the Sussexes will want to send their kids to a private elementary school in LA, like Markle herself did.
“The only thing I’ve heard, because of Meghan’s background, working in the kind of Hollywood world, he would be going to a very exclusive school, where the children of other celebrities go,” Quinn said in Jan. 2024.
Currently, Archie is going to kindergarten in Montecito, where the family lives. Earlier this year, the Montecito Journal reported, “Harry and Meghan have rarely exposed their children, Archie and Lilibet, to the limelight, although a friend whose son is in the same school class as Archie tells me he is a delightful little boy.”
Figuring out where to put your kids in school isn’t easy, especially when you come from two different backgrounds and experiences. At least they have time to decide before Archie and Lilibet turn 13!
Before you go, check out Prince Harry’s very best dad moments — so far!
Best of SheKnows
Sign up for SheKnows’ Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.