Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to Britain, relocating from the U.S. six years after stepping down as senior royals and moving to California.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will relocate with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who have both secured school places.

The news first broke in the British press, including in the Sun newspaper, and has been confirmed to Newsweek.

The Sussexes left Britain amidst a strained relationship with the royal family, in particular, Harry’s older brother, Prince William.

Tensions later deepened following Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, a Netflix documentary titled Harry & Meghan, and the release of Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare.

As the world reacts to the shock announcement, here are nine key questions as the Sussexes prepare to journey back to the other side of the Atlantic.

Why Are Harry and Meghan Moving Back to the U.K.?

An exact reason for the relocation has not yet been made public, and the news that Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, are moving back to the U.K. will likely come as a shock to many.

But there were signs of a shift in Prince Harry’s attitude to America since 2024 and the reelection of President Donald Trump.

In November, Prince Harry wrote an essay about his home country and his love for it. "Though currently, I may live in the United States, Britain is, and always will be, the country I proudly served and fought for," he said.

Some coverage paid particular attention to his use of the word "currently” at the time.

Prince Harry’s right to reside in the U.S. has also been under extended scrutiny from the right-wing think tank, The Heritage Foundation, which demanded the release of his visa application following discussions of past drug use in his 2023 memoir.

What Have Harry and Meghan Said About Moving Back to the U.K.?

Harry and Meghan have yet to make a public statement about moving back to the U.K.

When Will Harry and Meghan Move Back to the U.K.?

The couple is set to relocate from the U.S. later this month, ahead of the new British academic year beginning in September.

Where Will Harry and Meghan Live?

The couple will relocate to a private, non-royal residence outside of London.

It will give Harry and Meghan their first home base in Britain since they gave up the lease on Frogmore Cottage, the Windsor residence that the late Queen Elizabeth II gifted to them in 2018 as a wedding present.

King Charles III asked them to vacate the property after the release of Prince Harry’s memoir.

They will maintain their home in Montecito, California and their vacation property in Portugal.

Will Harry and Meghan Rejoin Royal Life?

The couple will not resume their roles as working members of the royal family.

Will They Take Part in Royal Events?

It is not clear if the couple will take part in royal events, but given that they are not resuming roles as working members of the royal family, it is unlikely that they would have significant participation.

Prince Harry has attended some royal, or royal-adjacent events since he and Meghan stepped back as working royals, including Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 and his father King Charles III’s coronation in 2023, but he had no formal role at those events.

How Has King Charles Responded?

Newsweek has been told that the move was not discussed with the king when he met the Sussex family at his Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire in July. However, he welcomes the opportunity to spend more time with them in a personal capacity.

Before the visit in July, Charles had not seen his grandchildren since June 2022. Archie was three at the time, and Lilibet was celebrating her first birthday.

What Kind of Security Will They Have?

It is not currently known what provisions are being put in place for the family’s security.

For the couple, security has long been an issue as they lost their taxpayer-funded police protection when they stepped back from royal duties.

Prince Harry subsequently began a years-long legal battle over the decision, and security remains a key concern for him. He told the BBC last year: “I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point.”

Prince Harry is currently waiting for a review of his security by the Government committee Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC).

The online response so far has been mixed, reflecting the public’s polarized relationship with the couple.

A degree of ridicule and scrutiny was quick to emerge online.

The Broadcaster Piers Morgan wrote on X in response to the news: “I may have to emigrate to the U.S.”

The podcast host Katie Miller, who is married to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, also wrote on X: “Meghan Markle gave this Exclusive to People Magazine. She always just wanted to be a celebrity”. She claimed they were relocating because they “don’t like President Trump.”

Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly, who has been a frequent critic of Harry and Meghan, wrote on X: "We’ve done our time here in America my dear friend!”

This sentiment, though, was not universal.

Britain’s Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, said while on BBC News, “We are all pleased to see them coming back and living here.”

Powell added “It’s a great endorsement of our education system actually.”

Meanwhile, David Wiseman of the Invictus Games Foundation, founded by Prince Harry, told BBC News that the move is “excellent news,” adding: “I will be really pleased to have him back in the country.”

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Cristina Diciu.