Prince Harry and his family will leave the sunny shores of Southern California and return to the United Kingdom, a source familiar with the couple\u2019s plans said.<\/p>\n
The Duke of Sussex, 41, and his wife, Meghan, 45, along with their two children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, have been living in Montecito, an affluent coastal enclave in Santa Barbara County.<\/p>\n
King Charles was informed of the move on Sunday, a source familiar with the couple\u2019s plans told NBC News. The matter was not discussed during the Sussexes\u2019 visit in July, The Telegraph reported.<\/p>\n
King Charles welcomes the opportunity to see more of the Sussex family in a private capacity, but maintains that they will remain private individuals and nonworking members of the royal family, the source said.<\/p>\n
The couple took refuge in the Golden State after stepping back from royal duties in 2020.<\/p>\n
The Telegraph and The Sun were the first to report the move Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n
The reports said Archie and Lilibet have been enrolled in British schools to start in September, meaning the family will likely move within the next two weeks.<\/p>\n
Harry and Meghan, however, will not return to royal duties, nor will they live in a royal residence, opting for a more private life.<\/p>\n
It remains unclear what security \u2014 a point of great contention in the past between the prince and the royals \u2014 will look like.<\/p>\n
On the question of Harry and Meghan\u2019s security arrangements, a U.K. Home Office spokesperson said, \u201cIt is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals\u2019 security.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meghan is expected to continue to run her lifestyle brand, As Ever, while living in the U.K.<\/p>\n
When asked for comment, a spokesperson for the Sussexes did not deny the reported plans to move back to the U.K.<\/p>\n
The move back across the pond comes on the heels of Harry\u2019s contentious visit to the U.K. in July \u2014 where his offer to stay at Buckingham Palace was rescinded and he had to walk back initial plans to travel with his wife and children over security concerns.<\/p>\n
Prior to July, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were last together in the U.K. in 2022, for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.<\/p>\n
A royal family reunion may not be a smooth affair given Harry\u2019s strained relationship with his father, King Charles, and elder brother, Prince William, for the past few years. Harry aired some of his grievances in his 2023 memoir \u201cSpare\u201d and has spoken publicly about tensions within the family.<\/p>\n