Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children may one day find themselves walking through the gates of a British school — despite growing up thousands of miles away. The idea may seem far-fetched to some, but recent comments from a former royal insider suggest the possibility isn’t off the table.
Prince Archie, now six, was born in London in 2019 but moved with his parents to North America in early 2020. His younger sister, Princess Lilibet, has never lived in the UK — she was born in California the following year, and both children have since been raised in the United States. Still, discussions around their future education have resurfaced amid whispers of a so-called “peace summit” between the Sussexes and royal aides.
While Meghan has previously voiced concern over raising her children in the spotlight of the British press, former royal butler Grant Harrold believes Prince Harry may want his children to experience British schooling at some stage — even if just partially. Speaking to Study Dog, Harrold noted that the idea is “very likely and completely possible.” He suggested that Archie and Lilibet could still spend part of their academic life in the UK, especially if the royal rift softens in the coming years.
“Even if their early education remains in the U.S., I imagine their father would still like them to have some exposure to the British system,” Harrold said. “It depends on the relationship they have with the wider family when the time comes.”
Where Meghan stands on the matter
While Prince Harry has praised life in California, saying he enjoys raising his children in the U.S., Meghan has previously been more direct about her discomfort with the media attention in Britain. In a 2022 interview with The Cut, she recalled the pressure of public life in London, saying school runs in the UK would be impossible without being turned into photo ops.
“If Archie were in school in the UK, I’d never be able to do school pickup and drop-off without it becoming a royal photo call,” she said at the time. “Sorry. I have a problem with that.”
Despite those concerns, Harrold remains optimistic that some form of UK education — perhaps in the form of a study program or a university degree — could still be part of Archie and Lilibet’s future. He pointed out that royals often pursue global experiences during their education; King Charles famously spent time studying in Australia during his youth.
“There’s precedent,” Harrold explained. “It wouldn’t surprise me if at some point, Archie or Lilibet came over for a gap year, university, or even summer school. Only time will tell.”
Whether or not the children will follow in traditional royal footsteps remains uncertain. But if royal relations continue to thaw — and if Harry’s wishes play a role — a return to British education might not be entirely out of reach.
