Prince Harry Reveals Why He Moved Family Back To UK
Prince Harry has opened up about the reasons he and his wife, Meghan Markle, returned to the United Kingdom with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, after spending several years in the United States.
The Duke of Sussex disclosed that providing his children with a British education, exposing them to different cultures and spending more time with his family were among the major factors behind the decision.
Harry made the revelations in his first interview since the family’s return to Britain, in a conversation with GQ’s Zach Baron filmed in September during his visit to New York City.
According to People, Harry and Meghan stepped back from their senior royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California, Meghan’s home state. Their son, Archie, was still a baby at the time, while their daughter, Lilibet, was born in California the following year.
The couple announced in August that they would spend an extended period in the UK, with their children enrolled in school there. They arrived in Britain the same month.
Explaining the motivation behind the move, Harry said it was about creating new opportunities for his family.
“Being able to put the kids in a British school has meant a lot to me. I didn’t know how important it was to me,” he said.
The prince disclosed that Archie and Lilibet had already spent two weeks in their new school environment and were enjoying the experience.
Although he stressed that his comments were not intended as criticism of American schools, Harry said experiencing two distinct educational and cultural environments would benefit the children.
He argued that allowing children aged seven and five to experience different cultures was particularly important in today’s world.
Harry also revealed that returning to Britain would enable him to reconnect more closely with relatives and friends, rather than limiting visits to a few days or a week at a time.
“It’s been nice to be close to friends, family, and their children as well, to be able to have endless playdates to really, like, help our kids settle in,” he said.
While acknowledging that he and Meghan had previously considered returning to the UK, Harry explained that the decision was not the result of extensive advance planning.
Instead, he said they acted when circumstances aligned and it became clear that a return would be the right move for their family.
His remarks offer fresh insight into the couple’s decision to spend more time in Britain, highlighting their desire to balance their children’s upbringing with stronger family connections and broader cultural experiences.
