Beyond the Media Noise—What Meghan Markle Is Really Focusing on After U.K. Return
From settling Archie and Lilibet into new schools to potential public appearances, Meghan Markle is taking her U.K. return one step at a time.
The media frenzy surrounding Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s return to the U.K. had been all-consuming even before the couple set foot in Birmingham this week. The conversation extends far beyond their arrival, with rumors of Meghan’s acting comeback and ongoing royal friction dominating the headlines. But even with so many things going on at once, the Duchess of Sussex knows exactly where to focus.
According to sources, Markle’s primary concern at the moment is “settling” down in their new environment. “In the very short term, it’s settling the kids in and settling themselves in—very normal stuff,” an insider told The Daily Telegraph. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are set to start at their new schools next month, and the family will need some time to recover from exhaustion and possible jet lag.
Although Archie was born in the U.K., he was only months old when he moved to the U.S. with his parents, while Lilibet was born and brought up on the other side of the Atlantic. Since 2020, both kids have possibly visited the U.K. only twice, once in 2022 for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations and last month for their European summer vacation. Naturally, the young royals will certainly take some time to adjust to their new surroundings and understand the relatively different culture.
Apart from helping her kids settle down, Markle reportedly plans on keeping a “flexible” schedule. She might also join Harry for public engagements on a case-by-case basis. Their diary may begin as early as September. According to the Telegraph, the Duchess will “make personal decisions about whether to join her husband at his events and may yet appear with him to promote (the) Invictus (Games).” Birmingham is set to host the coveted tournament next July, marking the first time that the Games are returning to the U.K. after their London debut.
When the Sussexes visited the U.K. last month, Markle and the kids managed to keep a low profile. While Harry was often spotted undertaking public engagements, his wife and children were not seen in public. Whether the family follows a similar pattern this time will be clear in the coming days. Meanwhile, the Duchess is reportedly in talks to play a part in The Gentlemen season 3 and is also receiving several other acting offers.
While there is widespread speculation about where the family of four will settle, no concrete details about their accommodation or Archie and Lilibet’s schools have been revealed. The Sussexes, however, are expected to be in the UK for an extended period.
