The Duke of Sussex has expressed his delight at returning to Britain, describing it as “great” to be back on British soil after a six-year residence in California. Speaking to Canada’s CTV network, Prince Harry highlighted that his children are settled in school and that the return allows him to concentrate on the upcoming Invictus Games in Birmingham next July.
Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stepped down from their roles as senior working royals in 2020 to build a new life in the United States. The family relocated back to the UK last month, with reports indicating they are currently residing at a private property in the Cotswolds area outside London.
The transition back to British life has not been without logistical challenges. Their son Archie, seven, and daughter Lilibet, five, were moved to a different school just days after enrolling due to security concerns raised by the Sussexes’ private protection team regarding the route and traffic conditions.
While Meghan has largely remained out of the public eye since the move, Harry has continued to carry out engagements linked to his charitable work. Last week, he visited a Birmingham school to launch an education programme inspired by the Invictus Games, where he played pickleball with students and participated in a lesson on prosthetic design.
The 2026 Invictus Games are scheduled to take place in Birmingham from July 10 to 17, expecting competitors from 25 nations.
Harry provided the comments following a skydive in Toronto, an act undertaken to honor a promise made to a 102-year-old World War II veteran and to support military charities. When asked about the motivations behind the family’s return, he cited “lots of reasons” but declined to elaborate further.
Tensions with the Royal Family remain evident. The couple recently received a letter authorized by King Charles, which reaffirmed their status as private citizens and outlined guidance for government and military figures on how to interact with them. Additionally, the committee responsible for royal and VIP security, Ravec, is set to reconsider the level of taxpayer-funded protection for the Sussexes now that they are full-time residents rather than visitors.
Six years abroad and he still cites ‘lots of reasons’ for returning. Interesting that security costs are now up for debate.
Hope Archie and Lilibet settle in smoothly this time. Moving schools twice in a week sounds stressful for the kids.