Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing questions over the planning behind their return to Britain after Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were withdrawn from a new school after just two days, when their security team concluded that the daily commute couldn't be managed safely under normal term-time traffic conditions.
Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, had only just begun the academic year following the Sussexes' move back to the U.K. from California. The problem wasn't the school itself, according to the couple, but the distance from their new home, heavy traffic and the practical difficulty of keeping security vehicles together during the journey.
"The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family's security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements," a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said.
The spokesperson added: "This decision should in no way be interpreted as a reflection on the school or the exceptional care the children have received there."
Security personnel had reportedly examined the route during the summer, when traffic was lighter. Once term began, however, congestion put greater pressure on the convoy, and Sky News reported that an incident occurred in which the family's vehicles became disrupted during the school run.
That rapid reversal has prompted criticism from former police officials and some parents who argued that traffic conditions should have been anticipated before the children enrolled.
Dal Babu, a former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent, said the episode "does beggar belief why they haven't thought this through," and suggested the family had "rushed" the school decision.
Dai Davies, a former head of royal protection, separately questioned whether a conspicuous multi-vehicle convoy was the best approach for transporting two young children, arguing that keeping a lower profile would make them "a lot safer."
Some parents expressed similar frustration. One mother said families had been excited about Archie and Lilibet joining the school but were "completely baffled" by the withdrawal.
"You don't need to be an expert to know how congested that area is. It's one of the worst places to drive in the UK," she said. Another parent said: "This was obviously going to happen."
The school change comes as Harry and Meghan's wider security arrangements are being reassessed following their return to Britain. The Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, commonly known as RAVEC, is reviewing their circumstances, while a Risk Management Board is conducting a threat assessment.
Harry lost automatic publicly funded police protection after he and Meghan stepped back as working royals in 2020. He spent years challenging the way his security was decided, arguing that the arrangement made bringing his family to Britain more difficult.
His circumstances have now changed substantially. Harry's security was reassessed in July, before the family's relocation was publicly known, while Meghan is undergoing her first government-backed security review since the couple left Britain, according to Sky News and Reuters-based reporting.
Labour lawmaker Mike Tapp, who represents Dover and Deal, said: "Nearly three weeks after their arrival, the King's son, Meghan, and their children remain without protection."
He called for a "proper review to ensure decisions of this importance are made swiftly, independently and on the basis of risk."
The reported school-run problem doesn't establish that Archie or Lilibet faced a specific new threat. The Sussexes' explanation is narrower: their private protection team concluded that the existing transportation arrangements weren't workable once normal school traffic returned.
