Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have spent the past five years far from royal duties, palace intrigue, and the grey skies of London.
But now, there are quiet suggestions that the Sussexes might be looking back toward the UK—this time for a very personal reason: their children’s schooling.
Reports suggest Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet could one day exchange their California classrooms for a more traditional British education. Such a shift could mean a permanent or even temporary return to the UK for the family.
Former Royal Butler Weighs In
Grant Harrold, who once served as King Charles’s butler, believes Harry is “quite keen” on his children experiencing the kind of education he had—complete with blazers, boarding houses, and muddy sports fields.
“It’s very likely and it’s completely possible because if they have their younger education in America, I’m sure their father will be quite keen to have a bit of a British education,” Harrold explained. “But then it depends on how the relationship is with the rest of the family when the time comes,” he added, speaking to Style Caster.
The idea of Archie attending Eton—where Harry and his brother Prince William once studied—and Lilibet walking the same halls as her cousin Princess Charlotte is certainly enticing. But, as the New York Post pointed out, it hinges on one major factor: the state of Harry’s relationship with the rest of the royals.
Signs of a Possible Thaw
Recently, there have been subtle signs of reconciliation. Aides for King Charles and Harry reportedly met in the UK, according to Fox News. Harry is also said to have extended an olive branch by agreeing to share his schedule with the Palace to avoid conflicts with major royal events.
Harrold, who worked closely with Charles during his tenure as Prince of Wales, sees the possibility of a UK return—if not for full-time schooling, perhaps for a traditional royal-style gap year. “The King famously went to Australia, so it is possible that coming to the UK could be part of that for Archie or Lilibet.”
Still, with Harry and Meghan firmly based in California and their recent unsuccessful attempt to secure publicly funded UK security, any move involving their children would require serious consideration. Yet, the option of boarding school in Britain—especially for their teenage years—remains very much alive, as noted by the New York Post.
The Wales Children Follow a Traditional Path
Meanwhile, Prince William and Kate Middleton are keeping their children firmly within the British system. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis currently attend Lambrook School in Berkshire.
George, now 12, is expected to start at Eton College this September, though Kensington Palace has yet to make an official announcement. Charlotte, aged 10, may follow in her mother’s footsteps by attending Marlborough College.
Harrold speculates the future King and Queen might choose a different route when it comes to higher education. “I don’t think it would be these days. We may find that George, Charlotte, and Louis might not all go to university. They may go straight to somewhere like Sandhurst,” he suggested.
