Meghan Markle Once Feared UK Privacy for Her Kids — Now the Family Is Moving Back

The timing has raised eyebrows among royal watchers, coming just as Archie and Lilibet prepare to start new schools this fall. It also puts a spotlight on the Sussexes' long-stated concerns about shielding their children from media attention.

Meghan Markle is once again dominating headlines after news broke that she and Prince Harry, along with their children Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, are moving back to the UK more than six years after stepping down from royal duties and relocating to the US.

King Charles is said to already be aware of the move, and the couple have reportedly enrolled Archie and Lilibet in new schools in Britain, with classes set to begin this September.

The announcement has sparked a wave of reaction online and in the press, given how publicly Meghan and Harry have distanced themselves from the monarchy over the years.

With their children set to reintegrate into British life, past interviews about shielding them from media scrutiny have resurfaced.

Back in 2022, Meghan admitted she was anxious about her children eventually attending school in the UK, citing a lack of privacy — years before the couple ultimately decided to return.

She raised concerns about paparazzi crowding her and her kids during school pick-up and drop-off in an interview with the Cut. "Sorry, I have a problem with that," Meghan said. "That doesn't make me obsessed with privacy. That makes me a strong and good parent protecting my child."

Privacy concerns aside, Harry, 41, recently spoke glowingly about UK schools during a conversation with actress Joss Stone at the WellChild Awards in London.

Recounting their exchange from the previous week, Stone told Hello!, "He was saying how wonderful the schools are here and how important community is for children." Stone also shared that she told the Duke of Sussex about her own move back to the UK from Tennessee last year,

"It was nice to share that with him because it's exactly why we felt drawn to come back – for the kids to grow up surrounded by family, friends, and a strong sense of belonging and most importantly in a safe environment," she said.

Harry and Meghan are reportedly planning to make the UK their primary base for an extended stretch, though whether the move will become permanent has yet to be determined. In the meantime, they'll hold onto their California residence as well as their vacation home in Portugal.

Details about where exactly the Sussexes will live, along with their children's specific schools, have been kept under wraps. Despite the secrecy, the news has already stirred considerable backlash among royal watchers.

"It's a huge slap in the face for William, and it does also create serious risks for the monarchy," royal reporter Tom Sykes told Page Six, following news that Harry and Meghan will head back across the pond later this month.

Sykes noted that, given the long-running rift between the brothers, the move will create a "huge succession" of fresh "challenges" for the Prince of Wales.

"What is gonna happen if Charles invites Harry to join the royal family for Christmas? What is gonna happen if Harry wants to attend the Remembrance Day celebrations?" he asked.

Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield was more blunt, calling the relocation an "admission of failure." She argued the decision proves the couple still "need the monarchy."

"A return to Britain is an admission of failure, whether Harry and Meghan are intellectually honest enough to admit it or not," she said. "They left Britain telling the world they needed freedom to thrive."

"They had America, Hollywood, enormous contracts, global name recognition and every conceivable advantage," she later added. "And six years later, they're coming back. That is failure."