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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have moved their children to a different school just two days after the beginning of the new academic year, following discussions between the family and its security team.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the decision after their security team assessed the practicalities of the children's existing arrangements. Their spokesperson confirmed the change in a statement on September 14, stressing that the decision should not be interpreted as criticism of the previous school.
The couple's children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, had only recently begun the new school year when the change was made. According to their spokesperson, the family remained grateful to the teachers and staff for the care and attention they had given the children.
The move comes as Harry and Meghan spend an extended period in the United Kingdom while continuing to maintain their home in Montecito, California. Their return has attracted considerable attention because the couple relocated to the United States in 2020 after stepping back from their roles as working members of the British royal family.
Security has remained an important issue for Harry, particularly in relation to his family's presence in Britain. The Duke has previously challenged decisions concerning his security arrangements after the government determined that he would not automatically receive the same level of publicly funded protection following his departure from royal duties.
In May 2025, Harry told the BBC that he could not imagine bringing his wife and children back to the United Kingdom under the circumstances. He also expressed concern about what his children might miss by growing up outside Britain.
His position appears to have evolved as the family has returned for an extended stay.
The latest school decision also comes amid continuing clarification of Harry and Meghan's position within the royal family. King Charles III confirmed in a letter obtained by the BBC that there would be no change to their status as non working royals and that they would continue to live as private citizens.
Harry has previously spoken about his desire to repair relationships with members of his family, including his brother, Prince William. He said he wanted reconciliation and indicated that he no longer wished to continue fighting with his relatives.
For Archie and Lilibet, the immediate issue is a change in their daily school routine. The family's spokesperson has made clear that the transfer was based on practical considerations surrounding security rather than concerns about the standard of education or care at the previous institution.
The move illustrates one of the challenges facing the Sussexes as they balance family life between Britain and the United States. While the couple continues to maintain private lives outside the working royal system, their public profile means decisions involving their children can attract considerable attention.
Their children's schooling is now part of that continuing adjustment as the family settles into its latest period in the United Kingdom.
