Harry and Meghan Move Archie and Lilibet to a New School After Just Two Days

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made a sudden change to their children’s education after Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were withdrawn from their new prep school just two days into the term.

The decision followed discussions with the Sussexes’ security team, which raised concerns about the practicalities of the daily journey between the family’s home and the school. The children, aged seven and five, have since started at another school.

A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan stressed that the move was not a reflection on the original school or the care Archie and Lilibet received there. The school’s name has not been publicly disclosed.

The abrupt change has nevertheless added another complication to the Sussexes’ return to Britain, which came after six years in California.

Security concerns behind the school move

According to reports, the main issue was not the school itself but the journey required to get there.

The route involved heavy traffic, long periods in which the children’s vehicle could be stationary, and concerns about whether the family car and security vehicle could remain together. Security staff were also concerned about the repeated nature of making the same journey every day.

The difficulties became apparent almost immediately after the new term began. ITV News reported that the security convoy encountered problems during the school run, while traffic in the area created additional complications.

The couple’s security arrangements are already under renewed scrutiny following their return to the UK. The Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as RAVEC, has informed Harry that his security situation will undergo a full review now that he is living in Britain again.

Questions over the practicalities of the decision

The abrupt school change has prompted criticism from columnist Sarah Vine, who argues that the Sussexes should have anticipated some of the difficulties before committing their children to the school.

Vine points specifically to the area’s notoriously congested roads. She says she knows families whose children have attended the unnamed institution and describes it as a well-established school, while identifying the traffic surrounding the school as its major practical drawback.

According to Vine, some parents have historically left home as early as 6:30am to ensure they arrive on time. Properties within walking distance of the school are also highly sought after, she writes, because families are keen to avoid the difficult commute.

The criticism centres on whether the Sussexes could have sought advice from people familiar with the area before making their decision.

The Cotswolds connection

Vine also points to Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, as people who could potentially have offered local insight.

The couple own a six-bedroom converted farmhouse in the Cotswolds, which they bought in 2021 for around £3.5 million. Edoardo also attended schools in the area.

Vine notes that the Sussexes are understood to remain on good terms with the Mapelli Mozzis and suggests they could have provided practical information about the area, including potential problems surrounding school travel.

She raises the possibility that Harry and Meghan simply did not have time to make those enquiries because their decision to return to Britain was made relatively quickly.

A summer test may not have reflected the school-term reality

Another issue raised in the commentary is the timing of the route assessment.

Reports have indicated that the journey was tested during the summer holidays, when traffic was lighter. Once the school term began, the conditions were markedly different.

The security team’s concerns included the amount of time the children could spend sitting in traffic and the difficulty of keeping the two vehicles together. ITV News also reported that the commute itself was a significant factor in the decision to move the children.

For Vine, this raises questions about the advice Harry and Meghan received before selecting the school.

She also argues that Harry’s previous experience of travelling with royal-level protection may have shaped his expectations of moving around Britain, contrasting that with the realities faced by ordinary families navigating busy roads.

The wider security debate

The school decision comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Harry.

The Duke has repeatedly raised concerns about security in Britain, including during his legal battle over publicly funded protection after stepping back as a working royal.

His return to the UK with Meghan and their children has now prompted a fresh review of the family’s security arrangements. The school commute has become part of that broader discussion, with security officials examining the practical risks associated with the family’s daily movements.

At the same time, Meghan has offered glimpses of the family’s new life in Britain through social media. On Monday, she shared a video showing Harry, Archie and Lilibet enjoying the countryside, including fishing and woodland walks. The following day, she posted family photographs to mark Harry’s 42nd birthday.

The contrast has attracted attention because the family’s precise home and the names of the children’s schools have not been publicly disclosed for privacy and security reasons.

For now, Archie and Lilibet have begun life at a different British school, while Harry’s security arrangements undergo a formal review. What was intended to be a new chapter for the Sussex family has therefore already required an unexpected adjustment just days after their children started school.