Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have enrolled their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in a British day school for the upcoming September term, as the family plans their relocation back to the United Kingdom from California.
The return of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to British soil marks a shift in the family’s lifestyle after six years residing in the United States.
The Bottom Line
- The Relocation: The Sussex family is moving from California to a private residence outside London in late August, with schooling commencing this September.
- The Grade Levels: Archie enters third grade at age seven, while Lilibet starts first grade at age five in a mixed day school setup.
- The Security Reality: The specific school name is withheld due to security purposes, echoing Meghan’s prior reservations regarding intense media scrutiny around school runs.
Navigating the British Prep School Landscape
Moving two young royals back into the UK educational system requires balancing academic standards with logistical caution. Unlike their royal cousins Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—who attend Lambrook after previously starting at Thomas’s Battersea—Archie and Lilibet are stepping into a different day-school environment. Eton College, the all-boys boarding school attended by both Prince William and Prince Harry, was explicitly ruled out.
Harry’s own memories of Eton, detailed in his 2023 memoir Spare, described his initial entry into the institution as a “profound shock” where he frequently felt out of his depth. By opting for a local co-educational day school instead of a boarding academy like Ludgrove—where Harry previously studied—the Duke and Duchess are charting a different course for their children’s formative years.
The Logistics of Relocation and Media Scrutiny
The family’s return coincides with ongoing battles over official state-funded security. Managing private protection for public figures moving internationally involves coordination with the UK’s Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec).
Back in 2022, Meghan articulated her anxieties regarding the British press corps in an interview with The Cut, noting the near-impossibility of executing a normal school run without turning it into a media spectacle featuring a group of 40 journalists taking photos. Choosing a secure, private institution outside central London is a move to mitigate that exposure.
| Child / Royal | Current Age | School Type | Location Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Archie | 7 Years Old | Co-educational Day School (Third Grade) | Private Residence outside London |
| Princess Lilibet | 5 Years Old | Co-educational Day School (First Grade) | Private Residence outside London |
| Prince George | Not Specified | Prep / Independent (Lambrook) | Windsor / Berkshire Area |
The Broader Cultural and Industry Ripple Effects
The return of the Sussex children to a British classroom is bound to recalibrate the media ecosystem surrounding the family. For years, the physical distance of California acted as a buffer against daily UK tabloid coverage. Now, placing Archie and Lilibet into a local school structure introduces logistical hurdles.
 "Photo: hola.com")
As the academic year kicks off this September, King Charles III—who reportedly learned of the move shortly before public confirmation—is anticipated to see more of his grandchildren in a private, family-centric setting. Whether this domestic reset signals a cooling of hostilities with the broader royal family remains to be seen, but the educational foundation for Archie and Lilibet is now set in British soil.
What are your thoughts on the Sussexes bringing their children back to the UK school system? Drop a comment below and join the conversation.
