The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, are planning to move back to the United Kingdom later this month, BBC News has learned. The couple intends to establish a private residence outside London, a move first reported by The Daily Telegraph and The Sun.

This relocation marks a significant shift for the Sussexes, who stepped back from royal duties in early 2020 and subsequently settled in California. Their children, Prince Archie, aged seven, and Princess Lilibet, aged five, are set to begin attending a British school in September, underscoring the permanence of their return.

King Charles was informed of the couple's plans on Sunday. While the King welcomes the opportunity to see more of his son's family privately, there are no current indications that Prince Harry or Meghan will resume their roles as working members of the Royal Family. Their official status is expected to remain unchanged, with them continuing as private individuals.

The decision to move back to the UK comes after a period of strained family relations, though a recent visit in July to King Charles's Highgrove home in Gloucestershire was described as a private family occasion. This visit was the first time the King had seen his grandchildren in person in over four years.

Security has been a long-standing issue for the Duke of Sussex. Last year, he lost a legal challenge seeking to overturn a decision that downgraded his family's security protection after he ceased being a working royal. Prince Harry has previously cited safety concerns as a barrier to visiting the UK with his wife and children.

A Home Office spokesperson stated that decisions regarding royal security are handled by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), emphasizing that the UK government's protective security system is both rigorous and proportionate.

Prince Harry was in the UK in July to promote the Invictus Games, an event for injured service men and women, which is scheduled to be hosted in Birmingham next year. His return to the UK ahead of this event was highlighted by David Wiseman, chief programmes and strategy officer at the Invictus Games Foundation.

The couple has not been in the UK together since attending the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. Their return with their children signals a new chapter, with the focus seemingly on private life and education in their ancestral homeland.