Just two days into the new school term, Prince Harry and Meghan’s children are set for a swift change of classroom — a move driven not by academics, but by security concerns surrounding the daily journey to and from school, a spokesperson for the couple said.
Last month, Harry, the younger son of King Charles, and his family relocated to Britain after six years of living in California, with Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, starting school in September.
The location of their new home and details of the school have been kept private.
Even so, a spokesperson confirmed reports that Archie and Lilibet would be transferring after attending for only two days.
According to the spokesperson, the commute between the family’s home and the original school — compounded by heavy traffic in the area — raised issues for their security team about the practicalities of transporting the children.
“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 said.
“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.”
Harry and Meghan stepped down from royal duties and moved to the US in 2020, a break that led to estrangement and awkward relations with the British royal family as they delivered a series of barbed comments about the institution.
Their return to Britain caught many off guard, with even the British monarch unaware of their plans until just days before the move became public.
Harry and Meghan are not living in a royal residence and will remain non-working royals, as agreed with the late Queen Elizabeth before their move.
That status as private citizens was underscored in a letter authorised by Charles and sent to senior British officials last week — a step the couple’s spokesperson said came as a surprise to Harry and Meghan.
The prince has also criticised the UK government’s decision to strip him and his family of the automatic police protection provided to other senior royals, replacing it with a bespoke system.
Harry’s security is currently being reviewed by a UK government committee, and the couple’s spokesperson confirmed that Meghan’s situation is also being looked at again for the first time since they moved away from Britain.
