Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have returned to the United Kingdom with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet after six years living in California, arriving by private jet on August 26, 2026. The family’s move marks a significant shift for the couple, who stepped back from senior royal duties in January 2020 and relocated to Montecito, California, in June of that year.
Archie, age 7, and Lilibet, age 5, are enrolled in private British schools and began classes in September 2026. One of the schools the children will attend charges approximately $35,000 per year, according to reporting from Page Six. The family is settling into a private, non-royal home in the Cotswolds region—an 83-acre estate reported to be worth around £12 million—rather than returning to Frogmore Cottage, the royal residence they previously occupied.
The couple’s return comes after months of planning. In June 2026, the BBC reported that Harry and Meghan were expected to bring their children to the UK in July, though security concerns initially complicated those plans. A July 10, 2026, visit saw the family meet privately with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House, the king’s private country estate in Gloucestershire—their first family gathering in four years, according to CNN and the New York Times.
Following the Highgrove meeting, sources told InStyle that Prince Harry appeared “determined” to continue efforts toward reconciliation with the royal family. However, the path forward remains uncertain; reporting from July 2026 indicated that Harry and King Charles had not spoken since the Highgrove reunion, and Prince William’s rift with his brother shows no sign of easing, according to Page Six.
The Sussexes plan to maintain their California base in Montecito and their vacation home in Portugal while establishing their primary residence in the Cotswolds. The couple previously rented a home in the same region in 2018, before moving to Frogmore Cottage following their marriage.
Meghan celebrated the move as a “new chapter” in a statement made on September 2, 2026, according to Hello! Magazine, focusing on helping Archie and Lilibet settle into their new home and school life. The return to Britain represents a reversal of the couple’s six-year commitment to life in the United States, undertaken after their departure from full-time royal duties.
Sources
- E! News — Confirmed arrival date of August 26, 2026, by private jet with both children.
- Page Six — Reported school enrollment at $35,000-per-year private prep school; noted Meghan’s security concerns.
- BBC — Reported the couple’s planned July visit and Cotswolds settlement.
- CNN — Confirmed King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted the family at Highgrove House on July 10, 2026.
- New York Times — Confirmed the Highgrove meeting and the family’s four-year separation from the king.
- InStyle — Reported Harry’s determination to pursue reconciliation and the couple’s focus on the school year.
- Page Six — Reported no contact between Harry and King Charles since Highgrove, and William’s ongoing rift.
- Hello! Magazine — Reported Meghan’s “new chapter” statement on September 2, 2026.
- Reuters — Provided timeline: January 2020 step-back announcement, June 2020 California move.
