New Delhi: After six years, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are deciding on coming back to Britain. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have plans to relocate to their private residence outside London, The Telegraph has reported. Their children, seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet, have already been enrolled in British schools for the coming term.
Harry and Markle left Britain for the US in January 2020 and officially stepped down from royal duties in March that year.
King Charles III has already been informed about the couple’s plans. Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate Middleton, have reportedly been intimated about the Duke and Duchess’ arrival later this year.
The Duke and Duchess currently have no plans to resume their working roles in the royal family, The Telegraph reported. But the relocation has risen speculations about their future prospects.
According to CNN, the plan to move was sudden as there was no such exchange during Harry and Markle’s visit in July.
The King has expressed his happiness at the development as this gives them more opportunities to see his family on a “regular basis, both in private and professional capacity”. But reportedly, the King has made it clear that the couple’s status as non-working royals will remain unchanged — largely owing to the concerns Harry and Meghan expressed when they had stepped down.
The couple stepped down from their responsibilities as they wanted greater privacy, financial independence and freedom from the pressures of royal duties.
New life in UK
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have decided to retain their home in Montecito, California as well as in Portugal. Markle will continue her lifestyle brand “As Ever”.
However, the family will not get any police support even after they shift to London, a battle the Duke has been fighting for several years.
There have been announcements of changes to their security arrangements, even after Prince Harry expressed his fears about bringing his family back to the UK without police protection. There is no announcement on whether this plan is permanent. The name and location of the school has not been made public.
(Edited by Aakriti Handa)