Prince Harry and Meghan have moved their two children to a different school only days after the start of the new academic year, following concerns from their security team about the
practicalities of transporting them.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed the decision on September 14 after reports emerged that Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, would no longer attend the school they had initially joined.
According to a spokesperson for the couple, the decision was made after discussions with the family's security team. The main concern was the journey between the family's home and the school, with traffic conditions in the surrounding area creating difficulties for their security arrangements.
"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," the spokesperson said.
The family has kept both the location of its new home and information about the children's school private. The move to a different school therefore adds another element of privacy around the children's education following the family's return to Britain.
The Sussexes stressed that the decision was not connected to the quality of the school or the treatment their children received there. The couple expressed gratitude to teachers and other members of staff for the care provided to Archie and Lilibet during their brief time at the school.
Harry and Meghan returned to Britain last month after spending six years living in California. Their relocation marked a significant change for the family, with their two children beginning school in Britain in September.
Harry, the younger son of King Charles, and Meghan stepped back from official royal duties in 2020 and subsequently moved to the United States. Their departure was followed by increasingly strained relations with other members of the royal family, alongside a series of public comments by the couple about their experiences within the monarchy.
Their return to Britain was unexpected. The move became public only days after the couple's plans were known to the monarch.
Despite living in Britain again, Harry and Meghan are not based in a royal residence and continue to hold the status of non-working members of the royal family. Their position was reaffirmed in a letter authorised by King Charles and sent to senior British officials in September.
The couple's spokesperson said the confirmation of their status had come as a surprise to Harry and Meghan.
Security has remained a significant issue for Harry since he ceased to be a working royal. Unlike senior working members of the royal family, he and his family no longer receive automatic police protection. Instead, a tailored security arrangement has been put in place.
Harry has previously criticised the decision concerning his security, arguing that protection for his family remains an important consideration when they travel in Britain.
His security arrangements are currently being reviewed by a government committee. The couple's spokesperson has also confirmed that Meghan's security situation is being reconsidered for the first time since the couple left Britain.
The decision to change the children's school comes against this wider backdrop. While the family has sought to maintain privacy over where Archie and Lilibet live and study, security considerations have become an important factor in determining their daily arrangements in Britain. Photo by Mark Jones, Wikimedia commons.
