Prince Harry and Meghan Are Heading Back to Britain — and New Details Are Emerging

Prince Harry and Meghan are preparing for a major change with their children, but their return to Britain is shaping up to be more complicated than a simple homecoming. As more details emerge, it appears the family will not be making the transition entirely together — and money may also be part of the equation.

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are expected to return to Britain before the end of August with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, according to reports.

The children are expected to attend school there, meaning the family could spend a significant amount of time in Harry's home country. The move marks a striking change for the couple, who established their life in California after stepping back as senior working royals in 2020.

The Sussexes Are Coming Back but Not as Working Royals

The reported move does not mean Harry and Meghan are becoming working royals again. As reported by the Sun, the Sussexes are expected to live in a private residence rather than a royal property and continue their business and charitable interests. Harry also would not receive public money or undertake official royal duties while living in Britain.

The couple's plans had apparently been developing for some time. In fact, Harry and Meghan reportedly met with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove in July without telling Charles about their plans, with the king allegedly learning of the move just four days before it became public.

Harry has also been seen in Washington, D.C., since news of the move emerged. According to HELLO! Magazine's report on his appearance, he appeared in good spirits while attending a roundtable focused on veterans.

But while the return may put the family closer to Britain, not everyone in Harry and Meghan's immediate family is going with them.

The Family Member Who Won't Be Making the Move With Harry and Meghan

Sources familiar with the situation told TMZ that Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, will remain in California despite her close relationship with Meghan, Harry and their children.

Doria maintains a home near Los Angeles and has built a life there that she is reportedly not ready to leave behind. She is also active in the local yoga community and has friends in the area.

The decision could change the family's day-to-day dynamic. Doria frequently drove to Montecito to visit Meghan, Harry and the children and even had her own quarters at their sprawling home.

She is expected to continue seeing the family, although where those visits will take place remains unclear. The Sussexes' return to Britain is also reportedly temporary, although exactly how long they will stay remains unclear.

A source told TMZ that whether the stay lasts six months, a year or something else is unclear because the decision is being made "day-by-day."

Doria's decision to remain in California isn't the only unexpected detail surrounding the move.

Then There Is the Money Question

According to Page Six's report, Harry and Meghan are dealing with a situation. "I am sure there are a lot of reasons [for the move], but I do think cash is a big one," one insider told Page Six.

That does not mean the couple is broke. A source emphasized, "They are not out of money," while another pointed to Harry's inherited wealth and said, "They had more money than most even before Megxit!"

The problem, according to the report, is the sheer cost of maintaining their lifestyle. Harry and Meghan have two mortgages on their reported $14.5 million Montecito mansion, along with household staff and a vacation home in Portugal. Their security costs are also reportedly around $3 million a year. As one insider put it, "Anything that comes in instantly goes out."

That makes the reported move particularly interesting because Harry and Meghan do not appear to be giving up their American life in California entirely.

Montecito Isn't Going Anywhere Just Yet

The Express UK reported that Harry and Meghan will retain their Montecito home and their holiday property in Portugal. The couple purchased their California estate in 2020 for $14.65 million, according to Page Six's report on the property.

The sprawling property reportedly has nine bedrooms and 16 bathrooms across 18,000 square feet. It also features rose gardens, century-old olive trees, a tennis court, a tea house, a children's cottage and a swimming pool, along with a two-bedroom guest house.

That makes the financial explanation particularly notable. The Sussexes could be preparing to spend more time in Britain without giving up the costly American lifestyle they have maintained for years.

Their business interests are another reason their ties to the United States are unlikely to disappear.

Harry and Meghan Still Have Business Ties in America

Archewell Productions, which Harry and Meghan launched in 2020, initially focused on producing scripted and unscripted films and series. According to Variety, the company's activity has become more limited, with the business now largely serving as a platform for Meghan's As Ever brand.

The couple's relationship with Netflix has also faced questions. In a March 2026 Variety report about their Netflix partnership, one insider described the mood inside the company by saying, "The mood in the building is 'We’re done.'"

The deal, however, remains intact. In May 2026, the outlet also reported that Harry and Meghan were developing a Netflix film adaptation of No Way Out: The Searing True Story of Men Under Siege, a memoir about British Major Adam Jowett's command of Easy Company in Afghanistan in 2006.

So despite the questions surrounding their entertainment business, the couple still have projects in development. Their professional lives are also expected to stretch across both sides of the Atlantic. Meghan is expected to continue leading As Ever from the couple's international bases, while Harry is expected to spend more time on his British charitable work.

He was already scheduled to be in Britain in September for events connected to WellChild and the Invictus Games.

While their business and professional lives in the U.S. may keep the Sussexes connected to America, spending more time in Britain also brings back a practical concern Harry has faced for years — the question of security for his family.

Security Could Make the Return More Complicated

Harry has previously argued that it would not be safe to bring Meghan and their children back to Britain without adequate protection. After losing a legal battle over his security arrangements, he was quoted by The Sun as saying, "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point."

Yet the family is now reportedly preparing to spend an extended period there. Meghan, Archie and Lilibet have also previously visited Britain without taxpayer-funded armed police.

Exactly what security arrangements will surround the family during their reported stay remains unclear. But the change is striking. A concern Harry once described as a reason he could not bring his family back is now part of a move that could keep them in Britain for months.

The Return Comes After Years of Family Tension

Harry and Meghan's relationship with the Royal Family has remained complicated since their departure. Harry previously described returning to Britain as emotionally difficult. In the 2021 Apple TV+ documentary The Me You Can't See, he said:

"For most of my life I always felt worried, concerned, a little bit tense and uptight whenever I fly back into the UK. For me, London is a trigger because of what happened to my mum."

The couple later discussed their experiences with the Royal Family and the British press in their Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan.

Harry described his departure for North America as his "freedom flight." By the time Harry released Spare, many of the family's private disagreements had become public.

The memoir included his account of a 2019 confrontation with his brother, Prince William, after William allegedly criticized Meghan. Harry said William described Meghan as:

"difficult," "rude" and "abrasive."

Harry alleged that the argument then became physical, writing that William "grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and … knocked me to the floor." He also wrote that he landed on a dog bowl, which broke and cut his back.

The account became one of the most widely discussed passages from Spare, although it remains Harry's account of the alleged confrontation.