Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are reportedly planning to move back to the United Kingdom with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, more than six years after the couple left Britain and settled in California.
The Sussexes are expected to relocate later this month from Montecito, the affluent Santa Barbara County enclave where they have lived since 2020. Neither Buckingham Palace nor a representative for the couple has publicly confirmed the move—but here is everything we know so far.
Where are Harry and Meghan moving?
The family is expected to establish a private, non-royal home outside London, according to the the BBC. The exact location has not been disclosed, and it is not known whether the property has been bought or rented.
They are not expected to return to Frogmore Cottage, the Windsor-estate home that served as their U.K. residence from 2019 until 2023, after using it during visits to Britain following their 2020 move to California. Their reported new base is separate from the royal household and its property portfolio.
Is this a permanent move?
According to reports, Harry and Meghan are expected to retain their Montecito home, along with their property in Portugal. But Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, have reportedly been enrolled at British schools and are expected to begin classes in September, according to the BBC. The schools have not been publicly identified.
Their enrollment suggests the family’s return is intended to extend beyond a short visit, though neither Harry and Meghan nor Buckingham Palace has said how long they expect to live in Britain.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex in London, 2022.
Does this mean a royal return?
No. Harry and Meghan will remain non-working royals, according to the BBC. The couple stepped down from senior royal duties in 2020 and subsequently established their independent life in California, which included a lucrative production deal with Netflix and the launch of Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever.
The move does, however, put the family closer to King Charles III. The King was reportedly informed of the decision on Sunday, and the Associated Press reports that he and not been told of the plan during the Sussexes’ visit to Highgrove last month.
The BBC reported that King Charles welcomes the prospect of spending more private time with Harry, Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet. There has been no similar suggestion of an improvement in relations between Harry and Prince William.
This story will be updated as we learn more.
Julia Cancilla is the social media & news editor at ELLE Decor, where she oversees the brand’s socials and covers design, pop culture, and emerging trends. She also authors the monthly ELLE Decoroscope column. Her work has appeared in Inked magazine, House Beautiful, Marie Claire, and more.