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Meghan Markle is reportedly feeling “nervous” about taking on the school run as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet prepare to attend a British school for the first time.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to the UK last week with their two children, seven-year-old Archie and five-year-old Lilibet, marking the beginning of a significant new chapter for the family after years of living in California.
Harry and Meghan arrived in Britain last Wednesday following six years in the United States. They are understood to be living in a privately owned, non-royal residence, reportedly somewhere in the Cotswolds, although the exact location has yet to be confirmed.
Both Archie and Lilibet have reportedly been enrolled at a preparatory school ahead of the new term in September. Their education is believed to have played an important role in the Sussexes’ decision to relocate, with the couple keen for their children to experience schooling in the UK.
The Sussexes’ relocation had reportedly been considered for several months, with insiders suggesting that circumstances eventually “aligned” in a way that made last week the most suitable time for the family to make the move.
However, their return to Britain has brought renewed questions over security arrangements. Meghan is reportedly “nervous” about taking Archie and Lilibet to and from school while the issue of the family’s protection in the UK remains unresolved.
A friend of the Duchess told The Sun: “The school run is a tricky issue and I understand they are nervous about it.”
During their time in the United States, Harry had access to armed security. In Britain, however, the Duke is unable to privately pay for armed police protection or access to police intelligence, even though he has previously offered to personally cover the costs.
Harry and Meghan have reportedly kept a low profile since returning to Britain, spending much of their time away from public view while questions surrounding their security remain unresolved.
The source added: “They go out as they need to go out but it’s a gilded cage without protective security.”
According to the friend, the school routine presents a particular concern because drop-off and collection take place at predictable times, potentially making the family’s movements easier to anticipate.
It has also been reported that Prince Harry’s legal representatives contacted Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood this month, urging her to become directly involved in the decision over whether the Duke and his family should receive publicly funded police protection while in the UK.
Harry’s legal representatives reportedly argued in the letter that the head of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) failed to communicate information concerning a terrorist threat, despite allegedly being aware of it.
The correspondence emerged alongside claims that the Duke of Sussex is deeply frustrated with the way British authorities have handled his security, particularly in relation to a documented threat linked to al-Qaeda.
Intelligence reportedly shared with the FBI in November 2023 revealed a document connected to the terrorist organisation that specifically referred to the “assassination” of Prince Harry.
The situation has been further complicated by reports that Harry gave the security committee less than 14 days’ notice before returning to Britain. This was considerably shorter than the previously agreed requirement of 28 days’ advance notice.
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A Risk Management Board has now reportedly completed its first official assessment of the threats facing Prince Harry in seven years. Its conclusions have been forwarded to Ravec, the independent body responsible for overseeing security arrangements for members of the Royal Family and other high-profile individuals.
The Home Office is now understood to be “actively assessing” the Duke of Sussex’s case.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham previously described the issue as a “private matter” and offered his best wishes to Harry and Meghan following their move.
The couple’s decision to return is reportedly about more than their children’s education. Harry is also believed to want to spend more time closer to his relatives on Princess Diana’s side of the family. In July, the Sussexes visited Earl Charles Spencer’s Althorp estate, where Diana is buried.
Addressing Harry’s security arrangements, a Government spokesman said: “It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.”
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