Prince Harry is not returning to royal duties despite move back to UK

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to the U.K. with their children, but the relocation does not mean Harry is returning to his former role as a working royal.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to relocate to Britain later this month with Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. The children are expected to begin school in the UK in September, marking a major change for the family after six years living in California.

Despite the move, there are currently no plans for Harry or Meghan to resume official royal duties. According to People, King Charles has reaffirmed that the couple will remain private individuals and non-working members of the Royal Family, consistent with the arrangement established after they stepped back from royal duties in 2020.

Harry is nevertheless expected to spend considerably more time in Britain. Rather than returning to the official schedule he once had as a senior working royal, he is expected to focus more heavily on his charitable work and patronages. His involvement with causes including veterans and the Invictus Games is expected to remain an important part of his public life.

The move follows a private reunion between Harry and Meghan and King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House in July. The meeting was reportedly an encouraging moment for Harry and came after years of tension between the Sussexes and other members of the Royal Family.

Charles was informed of the family's plans to relocate on Sunday, according to People. The King is said to welcome the opportunity to spend more time with Harry, Meghan and his grandchildren in a private and personal capacity, rather than as part of a formal royal arrangement.

Harry and Meghan will also continue their independent lives and businesses. Their non-royal work, including Archewell Philanthropies and their various media projects, will continue alongside Meghan's lifestyle brand, As Ever. They are also expected to retain their homes in California and Portugal while establishing a private, non-royal base in Britain.

The distinction is important because Harry's return to Britain could easily be interpreted as a reversal of the couple's 2020 decision to step away from royal duties. However, current plans indicate that this is not a return to the working Royal Family.

Instead, the relocation appears to be about Harry reconnecting with his home country and allowing Archie and Lilibet to spend more time in Britain, while the family continues to live independently of the monarchy. Harry will remain the Duke of Sussex and fifth in line to the throne, but he and Meghan will not resume representing the King at official engagements.