Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are planning to maintain a private residence in Britain, with their children starting at local schools in September.
According to news agency the Associated Press, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will keep their existing real estate properties in California and Portugal alongside their UK home. However, the relocation will not involve rejoining the group of working royals who officially represent the British monarchy.
Prince Harry remains the son of King Charles III, while Meghan Markle retains her title as the Duchess of Sussex. Their children also hold their official royal titles as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The couple stepped back from official frontline royal duties in 2020 before relocating to the United States. Under their current plans, Harry and Meghan will maintain private lives and social activities in the UK while remaining outside the formal framework of Crown duties.
Royal balcony appearance at Trooping the Colour
The institutional separation between the Sussexes and the monarchy was underscored during the Trooping the Colour ceremony in 2026. King Charles and Queen Camilla appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children, with Harry and Meghan absent from the lineup.
Trooping the Colour is the annual military parade held in central London to mark the official birthday of the reigning British monarch. The tradition of gathering on the palace balcony provides the public with a visual statement of which family members carry out official duties on behalf of the Crown.
The balcony lineup reflected the defined roles within the royal institution. Prince William, as the Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, stands at the center of the monarchy's public representation, while Harry conducts autonomous charitable work outside royal protocol.
Relations between Prince Harry and Prince William
Although physical distance between the brothers is narrowing, internal balances within the royal family remain fragile. News agency Reuters reported that the relationship between Prince William and Prince Harry remains strained.
The Associated Press reported that while Harry has achieved a degree of rapprochement with King Charles, those conversations have not resulted in a corresponding improvement in contacts with his older brother.
The arrangement creates a new dynamic for the British public as Harry and Meghan establish a permanent base in the country. By enrolling Archie and Lilibet in British education without seeking a return to royal duties, the family is setting up an unprecedented coexistence with Buckingham Palace.
