Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Reportedly Choose $35,000-a-Year U.K. Prep School for Archie and Lilibet

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly settled on an elite British prep school for their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, as the family begins a new chapter in the U.K.

The school, which reportedly costs more than $35,000 a year, offers an unusually extensive range of facilities, including an indoor swimming pool, fitness center, large grass playing fields and multiple AstroTurf sports pitches. It also has river access for boating and kayaking, along with extensive arts and academic facilities.

The couple and their children returned to Britain on August 26, 2026, after spending six years living in California. Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, are expected to begin their British education this month.

The exact name of the school has not been publicly disclosed.

A British Education Was Reportedly Important to Harry

The children’s schooling appears to have been an important consideration in the Sussexes’ decision to spend an extended period back in Britain.

Harry, 41, has reportedly wanted Archie and Lilibet to experience life at a British school and to have greater opportunities to build relationships with members of their family in the U.K.

The couple had been living in Montecito, California, since stepping back from royal duties in 2020. Their return to Britain is expected to be an extended stay, although they are not returning as working members of the royal family. They are also expected to maintain their California home.

School placements were among the factors involved in determining the timing of the move, according to ABC News. The family is expected to live at a private residence outside London while continuing their lives and work as non-working royals.

Harry’s relationship with his father, King Charles III, has also been cited as an important factor. Charles, who is undergoing cancer treatment, was informed of the couple’s plans before the move became public.

The School Offers Extensive Facilities

While the institution’s name remains private, reports have provided a detailed picture of what Archie and Lilibet can expect.

The school reportedly has art studios, multiple science laboratories, a large theater and a music and performing arts center. The performing arts facilities include practice rooms, classrooms, rehearsal spaces and a recital hall.

There is also a gourmet dining hall, while the school’s sports facilities include expansive grass fields, AstroTurf pitches, a fitness center and an indoor swimming pool. River access reportedly gives pupils opportunities for activities such as boating and kayaking.

For Archie in particular, the sports facilities could allow him to continue developing his soccer skills. In Britain, the sport is generally known as football.

Reports say Harry and Meghan considered several schools before making their choice. Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield said a source told her the couple had approached multiple schools before returning to England.

Parents Were Reminded About Privacy

The arrival of two high-profile pupils has also brought renewed attention to privacy at schools in the area.

According to Schofield, families in the Cotswolds received a message from school officials warning that some new families could attract greater public or media interest. Parents and carers were reminded not to photograph or film other children without permission and not to share photographs, information or details about pupils or their families on social media.

The communication emphasized the goal of maintaining a safe, happy and private environment for all students.

There is an important distinction, however. The school that issued the privacy reminder is reportedly not the same school Archie and Lilibet are attending. Page Six has kept the names of both schools under wraps for privacy reasons.

The clarification follows speculation surrounding several schools in the Cotswolds and Oxfordshire after the Sussexes’ return was announced.

The Sussexes’ Quiet Departure From California

The move back to Britain also marked the end of the family’s latest chapter in Montecito, although Harry and Meghan are reportedly keeping their California property.

The couple left their $14 million Montecito home with relatively little public fanfare before traveling to Britain. Their California estate, purchased in 2020, sits on seven acres and includes a guesthouse, tea house and gardens.

A separate report from Rob Shuter’s Naughty But Nice claimed that Harry and Meghan had considered holding a farewell gathering for some of the high-profile friends who had supported them after their move to the United States.

The reported guest list included Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, David Foster and Kris Jenner. According to an unnamed source cited by Shuter, the couple ultimately abandoned the idea after the people they approached were said to be unavailable.

The source characterized the planned event as a way for Harry and Meghan to say goodbye to people they considered close friends after establishing their life in America.

Those claims have not been independently confirmed by the individuals named.

A New School Year in a Very Different Setting

For Archie and Lilibet, the move represents a major change after spending most of their childhood in California.

The children have now begun the transition to British schooling at a private institution whose identity remains closely guarded. Their enrollment was reportedly part of the broader planning behind the Sussexes’ return, with Harry said to be particularly interested in giving his children an experience connected to his home country.

The family’s return does not mean a restoration of Harry and Meghan’s former royal roles. They remain non-working members of the royal family, while Meghan continues her business interests and Harry maintains his charitable work.

For now, however, the focus is on a more private milestone: Archie and Lilibet beginning school in Britain, with their parents taking steps to keep the details of their education out of the public spotlight.