Prince Harry and Meghan withdraw children from UK school citing security concerns

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have moved Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to a new school in the United Kingdom just two days after the children started classes, after their security team raised concerns about the practicalities of the school run.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to withdraw Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, from their original school after concerns emerged over getting the children safely to and from the property.

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 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.”

Heavy traffic in the area and the distance between the school and the family’s current home are understood to have contributed to the concerns, according to HELLO! Magazine. Sources close to the couple told the magazine that the children had enjoyed their first two days at the school, meeting classmates and their parents, but the logistics surrounding the daily journey proved difficult for the family’s small private security team.

One incident reportedly made it difficult for the security vehicles to remain together, raising further questions about whether the school run could be managed securely on a regular basis.

Archie and Lilibet have since visited another school in the area for a taster session. Harry was spotted settling Lilibet into reception, while the Sussexes have been added to the parents’ WhatsApp groups, HELLO! reported.

The sudden school change comes as security remains a major issue for the Sussexes, who returned to England in late August after around six years living in California, with Archie and Lilibet subsequently starting school in Britain.

Security has been one of the biggest unresolved issues surrounding Harry’s relationship life in the U.K.

When Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in 2020, the palace removed their automatic police protection. Harry later challenged the decision in court, arguing that his family remained at risk when visiting the country.

Harry lost his Court of Appeal challenge in May 2025. His return to Britain with Meghan and their children has since renewed questions about whether his circumstances should now be reassessed.

The issue is particularly relevant because Harry had previously said he did not feel comfortable bringing his wife and children back to the U.K. without adequate security. The family now has to manage those concerns as part of everyday life, rather than during short visits.

The latest school move comes as Meghan has been granted her first government-backed security review since the couple stepped down from royal duties.

The Royal and VIP Executive Committee, known as RAVEC, is assessing the couple’s current circumstances. Harry is also undergoing a separate official risk assessment, and the couple has been asked to provide information about their schedules and routines.

The reviews could therefore take into account the family’s current day-to-day arrangements, including the practicalities of getting Archie and Lilibet to school.

The timing means the school change comes as British authorities are already reconsidering security.

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The Sussexes announced their extended return to the U.K. in August, bringing Archie and Lilibet with them after the children had spent most of their lives in the United States. Their return has generated considerable interest in how the family will balance their desire for a quieter, more private life with the practical realities of living in Britain.

Harry and Meghan have said little publicly about why they relocated, while their team has sought privacy around the family’s home and the children’s school. At the same time, the couple’s return has prompted fresh attention on their relationship with the royal family and their status in Britain.

Earlier this month, King Charles III's office issued formal guidance confirming that Harry and Meghan remain non-working royals and that their HRH styles remain in abeyance. The letter also directed operational security questions to the relevant police authorities.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Samantha Beech and Sam Wilson.