Prince Harry and Meghan Markle raised eyebrows with the surprising news Aug. 19 that they will move back to the United Kingdom, per a source familiar with the couple’s plans. Another source close to the couple tells NBC News they are moving back to the U.K. for an “extended period” of time . A spokesperson for the couple did not deny the reported plans when reached for comment by NBC News. Harry and Meghan have been living in Montecito, California, with their children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, since stepping away from their royal duties in 2021. A source familiar with the couple’s decision told NBC News that Harry and Meghan will remain private citizens and non-working royals. They also said Harry’s father, King Charles III, was informed of the move on Aug. 16 and is open to seeing more of the family. The news about their move comes in the wake of a meeting between the Sussexes and Charles and wife Queen Camilla in July at Buckingham Palace. That was the first time the king had seen his grandchildren in person since 2022. Why are Harry and Meghan moving back to the U.K.? There could be “multiple elements” to why the couple decided to return to the U.K., NBC News royal commentator Daisy McAndrew told TODAY on Aug. 20. McAndrew cites Archie and Lilibet being of “school-going age here in the U.K.” She added that Archie and Lilibet have already been enrolled in a school not in London, but the countryside, as reported by People. There is also the matter of Charles’ health. The king, 77, was diagnosed with an unspecified cancer in 2024, and Harry has since expressed his desire to make amends with his family. “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore … life is precious,” Harry told BBC News in May 2025. “I don’t know how much longer my father has.” Charles continues to be treated for cancer, though he announced in December 2025 that his treatment schedule could be “reduced,” crediting early diagnosis, effective intervention and following doctors’ orders. “It certainly shows that Harry is serious about wanting to spend more time with his family,” McAndrew said of the possibility Harry and Meghan are moving in part due to the king’s health. Why did Harry and Meghan originally move to the U.S.? The couple left for the U.S. in 2020. Harry and Meghan sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a 2021 interview in which they alleged a fractured relationship within his family and said there were “concerns and conversations” among royals before Archie was born about “how dark his skin might be.” Queen Elizabeth II issued a statement in response stressing support for the couple, adding, “while some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.” British Royal Family Aug 19 Prince Harry and Meghan will move back to the United Kingdom, source says British Royal Family Jul 6 Fresh dispute clouds Prince Harry's U.K. return But in his 2023 memoir, “Spare,” Harry again alleged a rift, including claims his brother, Prince William, once attacked him and pointed a finger at Meghan, calling her rude. Buckingham Palace did not formally comment on the book. The Duke of Sussex has also been vocal in his disdain for the media and its treatment of him and Meghan. He claimed in “Spare” that Meghan’s background as a divorced American with a Black mother made her an easy target for the British press. He even issued a press release early in their relationship, blasting the media for what he said was a “wave of abuse and harassment,” including a “smear of the front page of a national newspaper” and “racial undertones of comment pieces.” What about Harry and Meghan’s security in the U.K.? What kind of security, if any, the couple receives upon their return to England is not clear, but Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called it a “private matter,” according to the BBC. “It’s a matter for Harry and for Meghan, and we wish them well in the move that they are making,” he said. The prince has fought to have his publicly funded security detail reinstated after losing it when he stopped being a working member of the royal family. He lost his request in court in 2025, despite his claims his family was placed at risk without having security. This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY: DEA Joins Investigation Into Hayden Panettiere’s Death Who Is Chanty Beluga? Meet the Comedian Behind the Unforgettable Name Bunnie XO Calls Life Post-Divorce a ‘Blessing,’ Shares She Wants to Have a Baby ...read more read less