London, UK - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hoped their return to the UK would be stress-free. Unfortunately, just two days into the new school year, the couple were forced to move their children to a different school for security reasons.
In 2020, the couple left Britain and quit royal duties during a royal family feud. In the following years, Prince Harry waged a years-long, ultimately unsuccessful, legal battle to retain UK taxpayer-funded security while living in California.
Now that the couple is back with their seven-year-old son, Prince Archie, and five-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet, Harry has reportedly been pushing for reinstated police protection.
The family has reportedly chosen to live in the Cotswolds, in central England, which is popular among celebrities. They had also enrolled both children into an undisclosed private school.
According to Hello! Magazine, the distance to the school and the heavy traffic on the route raised security concerns just days into the school year.
"The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family's security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements," a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told the magazine.
The school itself wasn't the problem – the security was
According to a source, Archie and Lilibet felt very comfortable at their first school.
"The parents remain extremely grateful to all the teachers and staff for the love, care, and effort they have shown their family. This decision should in no way be interpreted as a reflection on the school or the exceptional care the children have received there."
Reportedly, on Monday the children tried out another local school. Prince Harry was reportedly seen taking his daughter to the preschool class. He and his wife have already been added to the parents' WhatsApp groups.
Last week, Britain's Royal and VIP Executive Committee, which is responsible for the protection of public and royal figures, met to discuss the protection of Harry and Meghan's family. Harry will celebrate his 42nd birthday on Tuesday.
The committee, per the BBC, will conduct a detailed review of the threats facing the Duke of Sussex and his wife.
King Charles III said his son Harry and the prince's wife Meghan are not to be considered "working members of the royal family" after they moved back to Britain from the US.