The Royal Family Was Reportedly ‘Blindsided’ by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Decision to Move Back to the U.K.
2 min readTHE RUNDOWN
- The royal family was “blindsided” by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s decision to move back to the U.K. with their children, a royal source said.
- News broke yesterday of the family’s plans.
- The insider also addressed whether King Charles’s health was the reason for the move, along with who will be paying for Harry and Meghan’s security.
News that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are moving back to the U.K. with their children, Archie and Lilibet, shocked many—including the royal family. A royal insider told Entertainment Tonight that they were “blindsided” by the decision.
The source confirmed that Charles was informed of the news Sunday and added that there is “no suggestion” his medical condition is the reason they are returning. (Charles was first diagnosed with “a form of cancer” in 2024 and has since been receiving treatment.) The insider did not disclose when Prince William and Kate Middleton were told.
Meghan and Harry will move at the end of this month and pay for their own security. According to Entertainment Tonight, they are expected to stay at a private, non-royal property near Highgrove, where Charles’s residence is. In July, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Charles at Highgrove House with their children; the royal insider said the couple did not raise or discuss the move while there.
Harry’s father is happy to have more family time ahead, though. Charles “naturally welcomes the opportunity to see more of the Sussex family,” the royal source said, adding he wants to reconcile with Harry.
The source echoed what The Telegraph previously reported: that Harry and Meghan’s royal status would not change, and they will be private citizens. The couple stepped back from their working royal family roles in 2020.
“There remains no ‘half-in, half-out’ arrangement,” the royal insider said.
Archie and Lilibet will begin school in the U.K. next month. Sources suggested to The Telegraph that Harry and Meghan would stay in the U.K. for “an extended period” but haven’t yet decided whether the move will be permanent. They are keeping their home in Montecito, California, and their vacation property in Portugal.
