Harry and Meghan Move Children to New UK School Over Security Concerns

Just 48 hours after Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet began classes at a United Kingdom new school, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle transferred them elsewhere because their protection detail raised security worries about the logistics of the daily school run, as reported by Newsweek and Reuters on September 14, 2026.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex withdrew seven-year-old Archie and five-year-old Lilibet from their original British school after logistics difficulties emerged. Heavy traffic in the area and the distance between the school and the family’s current residence prompted the security team to reevaluate the daily journey, according to reporting from HELLO! Magazine cited by Newsweek.

Security Team Concerns and Logistics

Sources close to the family told HELLO! Magazine that the children enjoyed their first two days at the original school, meeting classmates and other parents. However, the logistics surrounding the daily trip proved difficult for the family’s small private security team, with one specific incident making it hard for security vehicles to remain together during the transit.

A Sussex spokesperson told Newsweek, The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family’s security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements.

The spokesperson added, The parents remain extremely grateful to all the teachers and staff for the love, care and effort they have shown their family. This decision should in no way be interpreted as a reflection on the school or the exceptional care the children have received there.

Following the decision, Archie and Lilibet visited another school in the area for a taster session. Prince Harry was spotted settling Lilibet into reception, and the Sussexes have joined the parents’ WhatsApp groups, according to HELLO! Magazine reporting.

Wider Security Reviews and Royal Context

The sudden school change arrives as security remains a central issue for the couple, who returned to England in late August 2026 after approximately six years of living in California. Their automatic police protection was stripped away by the palace when Harry and Meghan relinquished their roles as working royals in 2020. Prince Harry subsequently challenged that decision in court, arguing that his family remained at risk when visiting Britain, but he lost his Court of Appeal challenge in May 2025.

Concurrent with the school relocation, Meghan Markle has been granted her first government-backed security review since stepping down from royal duties. The Royal and VIP Executive Committee, known as RAVEC, is assessing the couple’s current circumstances, while Prince Harry undergoes a separate official risk assessment. British authorities have requested information regarding the couple’s schedules and routines, which includes examining day-to-day arrangements like the children’s schooling logistics, according to Newsweek.

Reuters reported that the family is not living in a royal residence and remains non-working royals under agreements established prior to their move to the United States. Their status as private citizens was confirmed in a letter authorized by King Charles and sent to senior British officials in September 2026, a step that the couple’s spokesperson noted came as a surprise to Harry and Meghan.