Education Secretary Lucy Powell says Harry and Meghan’s decision to enrol children in UK school is a ‘great endorsement for education system’ – but they won’t go to local state school
Education Secretary Lucy Powell has said Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to enrol their children in a UK school is a "great endorsement" for the country's education system, following reports the couple plan to relocate to Britain with Archie and Lilibet. The comments come amid wider reporting on the Sussexes' anticipated return to the UK, which has reportedly caught the Royal Family off guard, with sources suggesting King Charles only learned of the move recently and Prince William is said to be unhappy about it.
Despite Powell's praise for the state education system, the children will not be attending a local state school, according to the report. The move is being framed as a significant, if surprising, shift for the Sussexes, who have based themselves in the United States since stepping back from royal duties, with questions also being raised over funding arrangements for their security while in Britain.
- Lucy Powell calls Harry and Meghan's UK school choice an education "endorsement"
- Couple reportedly relocating to UK with children Archie and Lilibet
- Children will not attend a local state school despite the praise
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from official royal duties in 2020 and have lived mainly in the United States, in California, with their two children, Archie and Lilibet. Reports have now emerged that the couple plan to move back to the UK and enrol their children in a British school. Lucy Powell, the Education Secretary, is a UK government minister with responsibility for schools and education policy.
Any decision by the Sussexes to return to Britain is significant because of their complicated relationship with the rest of the Royal Family since their departure, and because such a move raises practical questions, including who would pay for their security. Powell's comments were made in response to the reports about schooling, welcoming the choice of a UK education as a positive reflection on the system, even though the children are not expected to attend a state school in their local area.
This story sits within the broader, long-running narrative of the Sussexes' relationship with the monarchy following their move to the US, an issue of continued public and media interest given their prominence and the ongoing questions about their future role and ties to Britain.