Meghan Markle's Past Stance on British Schools Resurfaces Ahead of UK Return
Years after raising concerns over British school runs, the Sussexes are giving UK education a try.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have decided to reverse 'Megxit' and return to the UK later this month. It has also been reported that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have been enrolled at one of the UK's top schools and will begin classes in September, though details remain under wraps. According to The Sun, the Sussexes won't be sending their children to a boarding school yet but might have already chosen a prep school.
It has been speculated that Archie and Lilibet are unlikely to attend Lambrook School, which is attended by their cousins Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Instead, they might consider Windlesham House School, a mixed-sex day school located in their dukedom of Sussex, or schools in Northamptonshire near the Spencers’ estate and close to King Charles’ Highgrove. However, this sudden decision stands in stark contrast to what Meghan had previously expressed about educating her children in the UK.
The Duchess had previously pointed out the lack of privacy her children might encounter in UK schools, indicating a significant shift in her perspective. This was highlighted in an exclusive 2022 interview with The Cut, where journalist Allison P. Davis observed Markle picking up her three-year-old son, Archie, from a preschool near their Montecito home without being hounded by photographers.
"Earlier in our conversation about her goals for the life she’s creating here, she’d remarked upon how, if Archie were in school in the U.K., she’d never be able to do school pickup and drop-off without it being a royal photo call with a press pen of 40 people snapping pictures," Davis wrote, highlighting what the Duchess told her. "Sorry, I have a problem with that. That doesn’t make me obsessed with privacy. That makes me a strong and good parent protecting my child," Markle stated at the time.
However, Davis had noted observing two mothers at Prince Archie's school in Montecito do a "double take" upon spotting Markle. Fast forward six years away from the royal family and the UK, and the Sussexes have decided to give British education a try. For strict privacy reasons, their UK residence has not been revealed, although it has been reported that the former royals will be staying on the outskirts of London. Additionally, Harry and Markle will be retaining both their Montecito home and their summer house in Portugal. King Charles was informed about their return just days ago, and the Waleses were also given a heads-up. This return occurs amid the ongoing estrangement between the two feuding brothers, leaving the chances of reconciliation uncertain.
According to GB News, former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt indicated that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's surprise return to the UK might have infuriated Prince William. He noted the potential for rival courts between William and Harry and suggested that Harry's return could aid his solid reconnection with their father, making it more difficult for William to avoid a similar situation.
