Harry and Meghan set for UK return with children in Royal Family thaw

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Rachel Meghan Markle, are preparing to relocate from the United States to the United Kingdom later this month in a move that could mark a significant development in their relationship with the royal family, The Informer Media Group has reliably learnt.

However, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the security arrangements for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their return to the UK are a “private matter,”

“It’s a matter for Harry and for Meghan, and we wish them well in the move that they are making,” he added.

The couple is expected to settle at a private, non-royal residence outside London, as first reported by The Daily Telegraph and The Sun.

Their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, are also due to begin attending a British school in September.

King Charles was informed of the planned move on Sunday.

However, there are no indications that Harry or Meghan intend to return to official royal duties.

The couple will continue to live as private citizens and there is no expected change to their formal status.

The BBC reported that the King was not aware of the relocation plans before last weekend but is said to welcome the prospect of spending more time with his son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren in a private family setting.

The planned return follows a gradual thaw in relations between the Sussexes and the royal family.

In July, Harry and Meghan visited the King and Queen Camilla at the King’s private residence at Highgrove in Gloucestershire. The Palace described the encounter as a private family occasion.

The visit was particularly significant because it marked the first time Charles had seen his grandchildren in person for more than four years.

Harry and Meghan had previously been together in Britain in 2022 for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Security arrangements remain a potentially sensitive issue. Harry has repeatedly raised concerns about the safety of his family in Britain and has previously argued that inadequate protection has discouraged them from visiting the country.

Last year, he lost a legal challenge against a decision to reduce the level of publicly funded security available to him after he stepped down as a working royal and moved to the US.

It remains unclear what security arrangements will apply when the family returns or who will meet the associated costs. Royal commentator Robert Hardman suggested that some concerns may have been addressed but said the details remained uncertain.

The relocation also appears to have been hinted at during Harry’s July visit. David Wiseman, chief programmes and strategy officer at the Invictus Games Foundation, said Harry told him he missed Britain, although he initially interpreted the remark as nostalgia.

Wiseman described the family’s return as “excellent news”, expressing hope that the move would go smoothly and that the children would settle well into their new school.

Harry’s connection to Britain is also expected to continue through the Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham next year.