Prince Harry and Meghan are preparing to move back to the UK later this month, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that their security arrangements upon arrival are a "private matter".
Let me walk you through what we know about the planned return. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex intend to relocate from the United States alongside their two young children, moving into a private, non-royal residence located outside London.
Their children, seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet, have already been enrolled to begin their education at a British school starting this September.
King Charles was informed of the family's impending relocation on Sunday. For those wondering about their public duties, there are currently no plans for either Prince Harry or Meghan to resume their roles as working royals.
To put this move into context, we need to look back at the timeline. The Sussexes originally stepped back from official royal duties and left the UK in early 2020, before establishing their home in California in March of that same year.
The couple was last in the UK together in July to visit King Charles and Queen Camilla, an occasion widely viewed as a notable step in their family relationship. That trip marked the first time the King had seen his grandchildren in person in more than four years, as well as the couple's first joint visit to Britain since 2022.
However, security provisions have remained a persistent area of tension. It is understood that the July visit had to be altered after Prince Harry's formal request for police protection was turned down.
That decision followed a legal challenge the Duke lost last year, where he sought to overturn an official ruling that had downgraded his security status after he moved to the US. At the time of that defeat, he told the BBC that he "can't see a world" in which he would bring his family to the UK without adequate protection.
As things stand today, it remains unclear exactly what specific provisions will be put in place for their safety once they move. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, royal expert Robert Hardman noted it was likely that certain past security issues "have been resolved", though the precise details remain undisclosed.
While residing in the US, the Sussexes have employed their own private security team. When asked by the BBC whether that private team would be making the move across the Atlantic with them, the couple offered no comment.
Crucially, it is still not known who will foot the bill for their protection once they settle outside London, or what exact date they will touch down. I'll be keeping a close eye on this story as it develops — check back for updates.


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