Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face a difficult effort to rebuild trust with the Royal Family and the British public as they prepare for an extended return to the U.K. with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, according to a former senior aide to Queen Elizabeth II.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to establish a private residence outside London while keeping their home in Montecito, Calif. Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, are expected to enroll in British schools beginning in September, bringing the family back to Britain six years after Harry and Meghan stepped away from royal duties.
Alisa Anderson, a former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, said living in Britain again won't erase the tensions that accumulated after the Sussexes moved to North America and publicly criticized aspects of royal life.
"I don't think they will be welcomed back with open arms," Anderson said. "They will have to rebuild that trust and affection with the family and the public."
The arrangement isn't expected to restore Harry and Meghan to their previous positions within the monarchy. Public reporting indicates they will remain private, non-working members of the Royal Family, live outside a royal residence and perform no official duties on behalf of King Charles III.
Charles was reportedly informed about the couple's plans earlier this month. The king is understood to welcome the prospect of spending more time with Harry and his grandchildren, who have lived primarily in the U.S. and have had relatively limited opportunities to develop relationships with their British relatives.
A source close to Harry said the transition has been under consideration for some time, with Archie and Lilibet reaching school age helping shape the timing.
"Step by step, they want to be in the U.K.," the source said. "They want to have the time and give the kids the opportunity to be here."
Another insider said Harry "never really stopped missing home" and wants his children to understand "the world he grew up in and where their family comes from."
The precise duration of the move remains unsettled. A source familiar with the Sussexes' plans told ABC News that the family expects to remain in Britain for an "extended period of time," rather than describing the relocation as permanent.
Archie is expected to enter Year 3 of the British school system, while Lilibet is due to begin Year 1. The identities of their schools and the location of the family's planned residence haven't been disclosed, with privacy and security remaining significant considerations.
Security is particularly important because Harry has previously said he couldn't envision bringing Meghan and their children back to Britain without sufficient protection. His willingness to establish a family base in the U.K. therefore represents a notable shift, though details of the security arrangements haven't been made public.
The move has also renewed speculation about Meghan's professional plans. Reports have offered conflicting accounts of whether she could return to acting, including speculation surrounding a possible appearance in the third season of Guy Ritchie's Netflix series "The Gentlemen."
Royal author and former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown reportedly said an offer for Meghan to participate "has been withdrawn" following criticism surrounding the potential casting. Other reports have said discussions could still be continuing, and no role has been formally announced.
British entertainment writer Rob Shuter has separately claimed on his Naughty But Nice Substack that Meghan agreed to spend six months in Britain partly to please Harry and support their marriage. That account hasn't been independently confirmed, and neither Harry nor Meghan has publicly connected the move to marital concerns.
A source close to Meghan instead said she "feels very fortunate that they're able to give Archie and Lilibet the opportunity to experience both worlds."
The Sussexes' return will therefore place them geographically closer to Charles, Prince William and the wider Royal Family without reversing the institutional settlement established after their departure in 2020. They will retain their California home and their independence from official royal duties while attempting to rebuild personal relationships in Britain.
