Harry and Meghan’s UK future could hinge on security review as Archie and Lilibet adjust to new school

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to Britain may be far less settled than it first appeared.

Just weeks after moving back to the UK with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly considering a return to California if Harry does not receive the level of security he is seeking.

The possibility comes at a particularly complicated time for the family. Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, have already had to change schools after their security team raised concerns about the practicalities of their daily journey. At the same time, the couple are awaiting the outcome of a new security review following their return to Britain.

A possible return to Montecito

Harry and Meghan returned to the UK with their children in August, six years after leaving Britain and moving to the United States. The family arrived in Birmingham on August 26 and intended to remain in Britain for an extended period, with Archie and Lilibet due to begin school there.

The couple’s plans have since been complicated by the ongoing dispute over Harry’s security arrangements.

According to reports citing a friend of the Duke, Harry could take his family back to Montecito for good if the security review does not produce the outcome he wants. The source claimed that such a move could happen as early as the October half-term holiday.

The claim remains unconfirmed by Harry and Meghan, and neither has publicly announced plans to leave the UK.

For now, the Sussexes remain in Britain, while the security question continues to be assessed.

Why security has become central to the Sussexes’ UK plans

Harry has spent years challenging the arrangements governing his police protection in Britain.

After he and Meghan stepped back from official royal duties in 2020, they no longer retained automatic taxpayer-funded security. Harry subsequently pursued legal action over the decision and has continued to argue that appropriate protection is necessary when he and his family are in the UK.

Now that the couple and their children are living in Britain, their circumstances are being reviewed again.

The Royal and VIP Executive Committee, known as RAVEC, is responsible for decisions concerning security arrangements for members of the royal family and other high-profile figures. Following the Sussexes’ return, RAVEC initiated a fresh review of Harry’s security, while Meghan is also undergoing a separate assessment.

The committee is considering the family’s current circumstances, including their daily routines now that Archie and Lilibet are attending school in Britain.

Archie and Lilibet have already changed schools

The security issue has already affected the children’s education.

Archie and Lilibet started at a British preparatory school after the family’s return, but they were moved after only two days.

A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan said the decision followed discussions with the family’s security team about the practicalities of their arrangements. The couple also stressed that the move was not a reflection on the school or the care provided by its teachers and staff.

Reports said the concern centered on the children’s daily commute. The distance and heavy traffic created difficulties for the family’s private security team, raising concerns about the predictability and practicality of making the same journey each day.

The children subsequently began attending another school, although the name and location have not been publicly disclosed.

The switch has added another layer of uncertainty to a return that was initially presented as a major long-term change for the Sussex family.

King Charles has also reaffirmed their royal status

Security is not the only source of tension surrounding Harry and Meghan’s return.

On September 7, King Charles III authorized a letter to senior government and military officials reaffirming that Harry and Meghan remain non-working members of the Royal Family.

The letter stated that the couple’s position had not changed since they stepped back from official royal duties in 2020. Their HRH styles remain unused, while their charitable activities continue to be undertaken in a private capacity.

The clarification came shortly after the couple returned to Britain and reportedly caught Harry and Meghan by surprise because they had received little advance notice before the message was made public.

The Palace also made clear that operational security matters should be handled by the relevant authorities, rather than through the royal household.

What happens next for Harry and Meghan?

The immediate question is whether the Sussexes will remain in Britain beyond the coming weeks.

The reports about a possible return to Montecito are based on sources close to Harry rather than an announcement from the couple themselves. Their decision is therefore still uncertain.

Harry has nevertheless continued making public appearances in Britain. At the Invictus Spirit Gala Dinner and Awards in London on September 17, he spoke positively about being back in the country and described his family as adjusting to their new life.

That public optimism contrasts with the reports suggesting that the outcome of the security review could influence whether the family remains in the UK.

For Archie and Lilibet, meanwhile, the family has already had to make one significant adjustment to their British education only weeks after arriving.

Neither Prince Harry nor Meghan Markle has confirmed that they intend to leave the UK. For now, the family remains in Britain while the security review and their new arrangements continue to unfold.