Prince Harry and Meghan are preparing to relocate to the UK from Montecito, ending a period of exile that lasted 77 months, with the move reportedly driven primarily by Harry's wish to give their children, Archie and Lilibet, a British education. Sources say the couple are settling near the Cotswolds, with Harry intending to remain in Britain for at least the next decade so he can be a hands-on father, attending school events and sporting fixtures, while insisting the move is not about seeking a return to royal duties or status.

According to friends, the plan has been discussed by the couple "for years" and became concrete last year when they began obtaining school prospectuses and speaking to headteachers; King Charles was reportedly informed of the intention before the weekend announcement, and Prince William had known for around six months. Archie, seven, is due to start as a day boarder in a leading private prep school this September, with five-year-old Lilibet joining the same school's pre-prep department; the family is said to be looking for a Cotswolds country house with a budget of around £8 million, while Meghan is expected to divide her time between the UK and the US.