By REBECCA ENGLISH, ROYAL EDITOR and GETHIN HICKS, REPORTER and SHANNON MCGUIGAN, NEWS REPORTER
Published: 22:03 BST, 19 August 2026 | Updated: 07:43 BST, 20 August 2026
Prince Harry beamed last night after announcing he and Meghan Markle are moving back to the United Kingdom – six years after leaving for the US.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are understood to be returning for an 'extended period' within a matter of days, with Archie and Lilibet set to enrol at a British school.
The family will move into a non-royal residence and will not be working royals . King Charles was only told by his son on Sunday that he plans to move back to the UK later this month, while the Prince and Princess of Wales have also been informed.
It is understood that while he 'welcomes' the chance to see Harry and his family in a private and personal capacity, the King is clear that there will be 'no alteration' to the Duke and Duchess's role and status as private individuals and non-working members of the Royal Family in keeping with their 'clearly expressed wishes and agreement over past years'.
Sources insist, however, it is not in the Sussexes' 'plan' to return to the royal fold. The Mail also understands that no mention of the family's return was raised or discussed when Harry, Meghan and their children met with the King at Highgrove earlier this summer.
Last night, Harry was pictured broadly smiling at a roundtable event in Washington discussing increased support for veterans.
The Duke, who served 10 years as a captain in the British Army and completed two frontline tours in Afghanistan, listened intently to the speakers, who included Jane Horton, senior adviser to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
He was later seen speaking with Sarah Verado, chief executive of The Independence Fund, a non-profit dedicated to helping wounded veterans and their families, and shared a light-hearted conversation with fellow red-haired veteran William Bringer.
Harry was already scheduled to visit Britain to attend a WellChild Awards event next month and was set to stay in a room at Buckingham Palace.
But the Duke, 41, and Duchess, 45, no longer require accommodation for their stay with the whole family believed to be returning for an extended period within the next two weeks.
Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, will be enrolling at a school in September but it is not yet known whether the move will be a permanent one. The location of Harry and Meghan's new home has not been revealed for privacy reasons.
Prince Harry speaks at a roundtable event about support for veterans in Washington last night
Harry chats with fellow red-haired veteran William Bringer at last night's event in Washington
