Parents warned about strict new school rules as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children begin life at UK school

Parents in the Cotswolds have reportedly been warned to take extra care with children’s privacy as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children begin attending school in the UK.

According to royal commentator Kinsey Schofield, families in the affluent countryside area received a message from a local school outlining stricter rules concerning photography, filming and the sharing of information about pupils.

The warning comes as Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, start a new chapter in Britain following their family’s move from California.

Parents reminded to protect pupils’ privacy

Schofield told Page Six that the school contacted families because some new pupils could bring an unusually high level of public and media attention.

The message reportedly explained that certain families joining the school could attract greater interest from the press and the public. It also emphasized the importance of maintaining a private and secure environment for every child.

Parents and carers were specifically reminded not to photograph or film other children without permission. They were also asked not to post photographs, personal information or details about pupils or their families on social media.

The school was not identified by Page Six, which said it chose not to name the institution for privacy reasons. Importantly, Archie and Lilibet are understood to be attending a different school from the one that issued the warning.

Schofield, host of the Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered podcast, said a source told her that Harry and Meghan had approached several schools before deciding where their children would study.

The precaution reflects the level of attention that is expected to surround the Sussex children after their return to Britain.

The Sussex children begin school in Britain

Harry and Meghan had spent the past six years living in Montecito, California, after stepping back from royal duties in 2020 and relocating to the United States.

Their return to Britain was announced earlier this month, with reports describing the move as an “extended period” rather than a return to royal life.

The couple quietly left their $14 million Montecito estate last Wednesday and traveled to the UK on a private charter. The family arrived in Britain on Aug. 26, with reports placing their arrival at Birmingham Airport.

The move has been linked in part to Harry’s wish for Archie and Lilibet to spend more time with his father, King Charles III, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2024. Sources have also said Harry wants his children to develop closer relationships with members of the royal family.

The children have now been enrolled at a private British school, where they are beginning the new academic year.

Recent reports have described the school as an exclusive preparatory institution with annual fees of more than $35,000, although its name has not been publicly confirmed.

Why the Cotswolds matters to Harry and Meghan

Although the exact location of the family’s new home has not been publicly disclosed, Harry and Meghan had been looking at properties in the Cotswolds earlier this year.

The area, a wealthy stretch of rolling countryside in southwest England, has long attracted high-profile residents, including David and Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and Simon Cowell.

Harry is also said to have a personal connection to the region. Royal journalist Tom Sykes previously told Page Six that the Duke of Sussex was drawn to the Cotswolds because it is close to Highgrove House, the Gloucestershire residence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Harry spent part of his childhood in the area and has happy memories of growing up there with his father and brother, according to Sykes.

The Cotswolds would also put the Sussex family within reach of other members of the royal family, although relations remain complicated.

William and Harry remain divided

The area is roughly a two-hour drive from Windsor, where Harry’s older brother, Prince William, lives with Kate Middleton and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

George, 13, is expected to begin Year 9 at Eton College, located across the River Thames from Windsor Castle.

Charlotte, 11, and Louis, 8, attend Lambrook School nearby.

Despite the geographical proximity, a reunion between the Sussex children and William’s children appears unlikely while the brothers remain estranged.

Harry and William’s relationship has been strained since Harry and Meghan stepped away from royal duties and moved to the United States. Their disagreements have continued in the years since, leaving little indication that their children will regularly spend time together.

Relations between Harry and his father, however, appear to have improved.

King Charles and Queen Camilla met Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet at Highgrove House in July, marking the first known meeting between the King and his son’s family since 2022.

A new life away from royal duties

Harry and Meghan’s move does not signal a return to official royal responsibilities. The couple remain non-working royals and are expected to continue their independent lives and professional ventures while living in Britain.

Page Six has also reported that British hedge fund billionaire Ian Wace helped the Sussexes financially with their move, although he is not believed to be funding their entire stay in the UK.

For Meghan, the relocation comes as she continues developing her lifestyle business, As Ever. Harry remains involved in his charitable work and other projects.

The couple’s return also comes after years of building a life in California, where they raised Archie and Lilibet away from the center of royal life.

Now, with the children starting school in Britain and the family seeking a home in the Cotswolds, their day-to-day lives are once again unfolding much closer to the royal family.

For local parents, that has already meant adapting to an unusual new reality: stricter reminders about protecting children’s privacy as the Sussexes settle into their new surroundings.