Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have moved Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to a different school after their first U.K. school choice lasted only two days, with concerns over traffic, travel time and the practicalities of protecting the children during their daily commute.

According to Page Six, the couple’s private security team became concerned about the journey from the family’s home to the school. The route reportedly took around 45 minutes each way, with heavy traffic creating difficulties for the security vehicles accompanying the children. ITV News likewise reported that security staff were concerned about the amount of time the children could spend stationary in traffic and whether the family and security cars could remain together.

Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, have since started at another school. The name of the new school has not been made public.

Questions over the school decision

The abrupt change has prompted criticism from royal commentator Kinsey Schofield, who questioned why the logistical difficulties were not identified before the children began the school year.

Speaking to Page Six, Schofield described the situation as another example of poor planning and said the problems should not have been unexpected. She said locals had warned her about the area’s particularly difficult traffic during school hours, with one description suggesting that navigating the roads at drop-off and pickup required considerable patience.

The commute was reportedly especially complicated because Archie and Lilibet have different school schedules. Schofield said the 45-minute journey could mean making the trip four times a day, adding another challenge for the family’s security operation.

ITV News reported that the security concerns involved several factors, including the length of the journey, the repeated nature of the school run and the possibility of the family’s vehicle becoming separated from the security car in congested traffic.

The situation became apparent almost immediately. ITV reported that the children were removed from their original prep school after only two days at the start of the new school year, with the Sussexes subsequently moving them to another school.

The timing has also attracted scrutiny

Schofield also questioned the timing of the decision, suggesting that some people would inevitably view the security concerns with skepticism because of Prince Harry’s long-running efforts to obtain greater security protection in the U.K.

She argued that the school commute could become another example cited in the broader discussion surrounding Harry’s security arrangements. At the same time, she questioned why a problem involving traffic and distance was not addressed before the children began attending the school.

Not everyone interpreted the situation that way.

Crisis communications expert Ryan McCormick offered a different perspective to Page Six. He said it appeared Harry and Meghan had genuine concerns about their children’s safety and noted that decisions involving the couple tend to receive intense public attention because of their status.

That distinction is important because the reason given for the school change has centered on security and logistics rather than the quality of the school itself.

A spokesperson for the Sussexes has indicated that the family remains grateful to the original school’s staff, with the decision understood to have followed discussions about the practicalities and safety of the daily journey.

Meghan’s family video adds another layer to the story

The school controversy emerged just one day after Meghan shared a glimpse of the family’s life in Britain on Instagram.

The video showed Harry spending time outdoors with Archie and Lilibet, including a fishing trip. Other scenes featured the children playing outside, Lilibet riding a bicycle and Archie running alongside her. One clip showed one of the children sitting near a fireplace.

The montage was set to Wham!’s Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, with a Union Jack and red heart emoji displayed over the footage. ITV News reported that the video was posted on September 13, just before news of the school change emerged.

The footage offered an unusually close look at the family’s new life in Britain after their return from the United States. Archie and Lilibet had begun the new school year in the U.K. following the family’s relocation.

The post also generated criticism from some social media users, who questioned whether the decision to share more footage of the children was consistent with Harry and Meghan’s longstanding concerns about their privacy.

The Sussexes have generally kept Archie and Lilibet away from extensive public exposure and have spoken about the importance of protecting their children online. The new video therefore attracted particular attention because it showed several ordinary moments from their life in Britain.

Schofield subsequently questioned whether the timing of the post was connected to the school story, asking whether the video might have been intended to get ahead of the news. That remains her interpretation rather than an established fact.

A new school and a quieter life in Britain

Archie and Lilibet have now transferred to another U.K. school, although its name has not been disclosed. Reports say the family is focused on helping the children settle after the move and giving them a quieter school experience.

There has also been speculation over how the children will be identified at school and whether their royal titles will be used in the classroom. Harry and Meghan have not confirmed that they intend to drop the children’s titles in that setting.

The school move comes shortly after the family returned to Britain following several years in the United States. Meghan’s September 13 video was one of the first public glimpses of their family routine since the return.

A source close to the couple told People that the family was “happy to be back,” while reports have described the children’s adjustment to life in Britain as a central consideration in the family’s plans.

The couple have also reportedly wanted Archie and Lilibet to have a stronger connection to Britain, given the country’s place in their family history.

For now, the immediate priority is more practical: finding a school arrangement that works for the children while also addressing the security and transportation concerns surrounding their daily routine.

The rapid change has inevitably attracted scrutiny, but the competing explanations remain clear. Schofield has questioned the planning and timing, while McCormick has pointed to the possibility that Harry and Meghan simply acted out of concern for their children’s safety. The Sussexes have moved on to another school, leaving the family to settle into their new life in Britain.