Meghan Markle’s Plans for Her Time in the U.K.—and Whether She’ll Make Public Appearances

3 min read

THE RUNDOWN

• Meghan Markle and Prince Harry moved to the U.K. yesterday, days after their rep confirmed they would be living there for an “extended period” this fall.
• Sources spoke about Meghan’s focus as the couple and their children, Archie and Lilibet, adjust to the country.
• The Telegraph also received intel on how soon Meghan could make public appearances with her husband.

Yesterday, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrived in the U.K. to begin their move there with their children, Archie and Lilibet. Less than 24 hours later, sources have spoken to The Telegraph about the Duchess of Sussex’s focus in these early days of the family’s new chapter. While she and Harry are private citizens, Meghan may start doing public engagements with her husband sooner rather than later.

The outlet noted that Harry has a week of appearances with his patronages in early September, including the WellChild Awards. Meghan, The Telegraph understands, will “make personal decisions about whether to join her husband at his events and may yet appear with him to promote [the] Invictus [Games, which are in Birmingham next July].”

Meghan’s immediate focus is Archie and Lili, though, who will begin school in September. “In the very short term, it’s settling the kids in and settling themselves in,” an insider said of the duchess’s priorities. “Very normal stuff.”

Beyond that, “we keep it flexible,” a source said, stressing the children’s adjustment comes first, and from there, all other decisions would “flow.”

Meghan will also be traveling back to California “often” as teams for the couple’s Archewell Productions and her lifestyle brand, As Ever, are based there, The Telegraph reports. (Harry and Meghan have kept their house in Montecito.)

The outlet also revealed that King Charles III would need to invite Meghan and Harry to well-known royal family events like summer at Balmoral and Christmas at Sandringham, so their appearances there aren’t guaranteed.

It’s unclear how long Meghan and Harry will be staying in the U.K., with one source suggesting they may not want to uproot their kids from a new school “too quickly.” Others told the outlet that a range of periods is a possibility, be it “six months, a year, two years…who knows.”

Meghan and Harry’s rep suggested the stay wasn’t forever when they confirmed the Sussexes’ move in a statement to The New York Times last week. “On the heels of a wonderful trip with family and friends this summer, Harry and Meghan have decided to spend an extended period in the U.K. this autumn,” the spokesperson said. “They are excited to have their children spend more time in the country that’s such an important part of their family’s story.”

Earlier this week, a Montecito insider gave People similar insight about Meghan’s motivation for moving there, saying, “Meghan feels very fortunate that they’re able to give Archie and Lilibet the opportunity to experience both worlds.”

Meghan struggled with her mental health when she originally lived in the U.K. as a working royal family member due to tabloid harassment of her. A source close to Meghan acknowledged those challenges still remain, saying, “My biggest concern is the level of media attention she’ll face in the U.K. I’m worried for her.”

An ally expressed optimism this time could be better, though. “She has been vocal about how she felt about it before, but that doesn’t mean things are going to be exactly the same again,” the insider told People. “It doesn’t mean it can’t be different and can’t change.”

And Meghan and Harry are hopeful. As they look ahead, a source told The Telegraph yesterday, they are “excited” about their future.