Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing to relocate to the UK within days, a move royal insiders say will leave Prince William “apoplectic” and place the couple back in a country where public favourability remains low, despite a recent thaw in relations with King Charles.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to begin a new chapter in Britain within days, but their return is expected to bring them face to face with an “apoplectic” Prince William, subdued public favourability, and an uncertain place within the wider royal structure. Royal insiders say the Prince of Wales is likely to be angered by the surprise nature of the announcement, and may feel pressure to move toward reconciliation with his brother as a result. King Charles himself was reportedly taken by surprise, having been informed of the plan only on Sunday, just three days before it became public.
An extended stay, not a confirmed permanent move
The relocation is being described as an “extended period” in Britain rather than a confirmed permanent return. The family is expected to arrive this month, with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet due to begin the new school year in September. No UK address or school has been publicly identified; the family is expected to live in a private, non-royal home outside London, with the children’s schools being kept confidential for security reasons.
This will mark the Sussexes’ first extended period living in Britain since stepping down as senior working royals in 2020. The couple will continue to retain their homes in California and Portugal. The children have made only a limited number of visits to Britain since the family relocated to the US, making their planned schooling in the UK a significant change to their day-to-day lives. Archie was born in Britain, while Lilibet was born in California.
No change to the couple’s royal status
Sources say the terms of the arrangement under which the Sussexes operate as non-working royals will remain unchanged, and the couple are not being offered any “half-in-half-out” option regarding their status. Even so, some close to the Royal Family are said to fear that the couple may be attempting to create exactly such an arrangement through the move itself.
The relocation does not restore Harry or Meghan to official royal duties, and their status as private individuals remains the same as it has been since 2020.
A strained relationship with William
The move is likely to create an awkward dynamic with William and Kate, who were last seen publicly alongside the Sussexes following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. William remains estranged from Harry, who has made a series of accusations against his brother, Kate, King Charles and Queen Camilla in the years since leaving royal life in 2020.
Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt offered a longer-term assessment of what the return could mean for the two brothers. “In the long term, the return of the Sussexes to the UK opens up the prospect of two rival courts, William’s and Harry’s. In the short term, Harry will be able to deepen his rapprochement with his father,” he said. “His presence back home will make it harder for his brother to duck a reconciliation. The surprise return of Harry and Meghan is likely to have left William apoplectic.”
The couple’s return could mean Harry and William are physically present in the same country far more often than in recent years, a shift that may increase pressure for some kind of reconciliation, or alternatively risk intensifying existing tensions as their households operate in closer proximity.
A gradual thaw with the King
The planned move follows a gradual improvement in relations between Harry and King Charles, following Harry’s visits after the King’s cancer diagnosis and a more recent private family reunion. Despite this apparent thaw, Harry’s relationship with William remains strained, with no comparable signs of reconciliation between the two brothers. According to reports, Harry did not discuss his planned return with the King during their meeting six weeks ago.
Low public favourability
The Sussexes’ popularity in the UK has declined steadily since their departure in 2020, amid a series of public criticisms directed at the Royal Family in the years since. According to YouGov polling from last month, just 22% of Britons view Meghan positively, compared with 65% who hold an unfavourable opinion of her. Harry fares only somewhat better, with 33% viewing him positively against 58% negatively.
There are, however, some signs of modest improvement in Harry’s own standing. His positive rating rose by six percentage points compared with May 2025, while his negative rating fell by five points over the same period, although he remains, on balance, more unpopular than popular among the British public. Meghan’s standing has shown no comparable improvement, with unfavourable views continuing to significantly outweigh favourable ones.
Security remains a key concern
Security continues to be one of the most significant unresolved issues surrounding the family’s return. Harry has spent years challenging the arrangements governing his police protection while in Britain, and concerns about safely bringing Meghan and their children into the country have previously disrupted the family’s travel plans.
Business and charitable commitments
Despite the move, Meghan is expected to continue running her lifestyle brand, As Ever, from the family’s new UK base, while Harry is expected to dedicate more time to his charitable commitments in Britain. One question that remains unanswered is precisely how much time the family will ultimately spend in the UK compared with California; retaining their overseas properties suggests the possibility of a transatlantic lifestyle, rather than a complete and permanent departure from the United States.
Wider reaction
The announcement is reported to have taken many close to the family by surprise, including a friend of Harry’s from the Invictus Games community, who described the move as having “taken everybody by surprise.” One royal expert has separately warned of a “crisis for the monarchy” and described the situation as “serious,” while a royal insider suggested Harry’s decision to return may have been partly inspired by a recent visit to Althorp, his late mother’s family estate.
