Meghan Markle’s decision to handle Archie and Lilibet’s school run herself explained

Meghan Markle is reportedly planning to take a hands-on role in getting Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to and from school after the family’s return to Britain, rather than relying on a nanny for the daily routine.

The decision comes as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex settle back into life in the UK with their two children. The family reportedly returned to Britain last month after six years in California and are now living in the Cotswolds.

Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, are reportedly enrolled at a prep school in the area, with tuition said to be around £25,000 a month.

According to a UK-based source cited by Star Magazine, Meghan wants to approach parenting in Britain in a similar way to Princess Kate, particularly when it comes to the school routine.

The source claimed Meghan does not intend to hire a nanny specifically to handle the school run and instead wants to take on the responsibility herself.

“She wants to be there every step of the way as they acclimate.”

The source said the move back to Britain will be a major adjustment for the children, making it important to Meghan that she is closely involved as they settle into their new surroundings.

Meghan reportedly wants to follow Kate’s example

According to the source, Meghan sees Princess Kate as an example of how to maintain an involved role as a mother while navigating life in the public eye.

The source described Kate as a mother who is known for being down to earth and able to mix naturally with other parents at her children’s school.

Meghan, the source claimed, wants to adopt a similar approach in England.

“She won’t be deferring to nannies,” the source said, adding that Meghan had been an involved school parent while the family lived in Montecito.

The source also rejected suggestions that Meghan struggled to form relationships with other parents in California, saying she had friends there and was determined to build a similar network in the UK.

The claims remain attributed to an unnamed source rather than being a statement from Meghan or Harry.

The decision comes despite Meghan’s comments in 2022

Meghan’s reported plans for the school run are notable because they contrast with comments she made several years ago about what life would be like for her children if they attended school in Britain.

During her 2022 interview with The Cut, journalist Alisson P. Davis accompanied Meghan while she picked Archie up from school in Montecito.

Davis recalled Meghan discussing the prospect of doing the same thing in the UK.

According to Davis, Meghan said she would not be able to carry out school drop-offs and pick-ups in Britain without attracting significant media attention.

She described a scenario in which a normal school run could become a royal photo opportunity, with a large group of photographers waiting outside.

Meghan responded by defending her concerns over privacy and her role as a mother.

“Sorry, I have a problem with that,” she said, according to Davis. “That doesn’t make me obsessed with privacy. That makes me a strong and good parent protecting my child.”

That concern now takes on added significance following the family’s return to Britain.

Security remains a concern around the school run

Recent reporting has highlighted security as one of the couple’s main concerns as they prepare for Archie and Lilibet to begin their new school routine.

The Telegraph reported that the school run is considered a particularly difficult security issue because drop-off and pick-up involve predictable destinations, even when routes can be changed. The family is also reportedly awaiting further information from the Home Office about longer-term police protection.

That means Meghan’s decision to take part in the routine herself comes against a complicated backdrop. The couple reportedly want to be directly involved in their children’s daily lives, while also having to consider the security implications of repeatedly travelling to and from the same location.

The family’s return to Britain has therefore brought Meghan’s earlier comments about the school run back into focus.

In California, she had described the routine as something she could do personally with Archie. In Britain, she once believed the same activity would attract an overwhelming media presence.

Now, according to the latest reports, she intends to do the school run herself despite those earlier concerns.

For Meghan, the motivation described by the source is largely about helping Archie and Lilibet adjust to a major change in their lives after years in California. Her reported decision also reflects the hands-on parenting approach she has previously spoken about.

The practical reality of that plan will become clearer as the children settle into their new school and the Sussex family begins its next chapter in the UK.