A New Chapter: Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet's Journey to the U.K.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children are getting ready for a new chapter in the U.K. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are known to have visited the U.K. only twice in the past six years. Prince Archie was born in Britain in May 2019, but he spent only the first months of his life there. After his parents stepped back as working royals, the family relocated to North America, eventually settling in California. Meanwhile, Princess Lilibet was born in California in 2021 and didn't visit the U.K. until the following year. Four more years passed before the entire family returned together for a visit that included a reunion with King Charles.

Now, the family is preparing to live in a private, non-royal home in the U.K., with Archie and Lilibet attending school in Britain starting next month. A spokesperson for the family declined to comment on the matter of security to PEOPLE.

Prince Archie's Birth and Early Days

On May 6, 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan welcomed Prince Archie in London, returning home to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor for their new chapter as a family of three. Six months later, the family left the U.K. for what was initially described as a break in Canada. Harry and Meghan briefly returned to Britain in January 2020, when they announced their intention to step back as senior royals. The family eventually settled in Montecito, California, which has remained their home base for the past six years.

Princess Lilibet's First Visit

Princess Lilibet was born in California on June 4, 2021. One year later, Harry and Meghan brought her and Archie to the U.K. for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, celebrating the late monarch's 70 years on the throne. The trip marked Lilibet's first and only meeting with her great-grandmother, who died on September 8, 2022. Prince Harry recalled the interaction between his children and Queen Elizabeth in his 2023 memoir Spare, writing, "Archie making deep, chivalrous bows, his baby sister Lilibet cuddling the monarch's shins. 'Sweetest children,' Granny said, sounding bemused. She'd expected them to be a bit more ... American, I think? Meaning, in her mind, more rambunctious."

King Charles also met his granddaughter for the first time during the June 2022 visit. A royal source said it was a "very emotional" visit for him.

The 2026 Reunion with King Charles

The family of four reunited with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House in July 2026, marking the monarch's first meeting with his grandchildren in four years. "One of the strangenesses of the monarchy is that we are all encouraged to forget they're human beings because they're representatives of the institution," royal author Catherine Mayer told PEOPLE. "But at its heart it is just a family and, this family has gone through extraordinary upheavals. Whatever you think of the monarchy, this is a moment most of us wanted to see happen."

During the trip, Prince Harry and Meghan also took Archie and Lilibet to Althorp, Princess Diana's childhood home and final resting place. The visit to Althorp was a poignant moment for the family, allowing Harry to share his mother's legacy with his own children.

Security Concerns

Prince Harry has expressed concerns about his family's security in Britain. Following his and Meghan's departure from royal duties in 2020, their security arrangements changed, ending their automatic access to the same level of taxpayer-funded police protection in the U.K. The family's decision to move back to the U.K. has raised questions about how their security will be managed during their extended stay.

A New Beginning

The family's move to the U.K. represents a significant shift for the Sussexes. After six years in California, they are returning to Britain for an extended period, with Archie and Lilibet set to attend school in the country starting next month. The move marks a new chapter for the family, one that will see them spend more time in their father's home country and build deeper connections with their British roots.

For Archie and Lilibet, the move offers an opportunity to experience life in the U.K., to get to know their extended family, and to forge their own connections to the country where their father grew up. It is a chance for them to understand their heritage and to build relationships with their cousins and other members of the royal family.

As the Sussexes prepare for their move, the world will be watching to see how this new chapter unfolds. For Archie and Lilibet, the move represents an opportunity to grow up with a deeper understanding of their British heritage and to build connections that will last a lifetime.