Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have reached the milestone that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had been preparing for since announcing their return to Britain: both children are now attending school in the United Kingdom.
Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, have begun the new school year, PEOPLE reported on September 10. It is the first time either child has attended school in Britain, although details about the school and the family’s new home are being kept private.
A source close to Harry and Meghan said getting the children settled “has been, and remains, their focus” since the family relocated from California. “There is a lot to do. They have just moved halfway across the world, and it’s been really busy getting the kids settled,” the source said.
The Sussexes arrived in Britain in late August after six years based primarily in California. Their move and the children’s enrollment were announced several weeks before classes began, but the new update confirms that Archie and Lilibet have now made the transition into their first British school year.
Archie and Lilibet Are Now in the Classroom
The September start represents different firsts for the two children. Archie was born in London in May 2019 and spent part of his infancy in Britain, but he moved to North America with his parents before reaching school age. Lilibet was born in California in June 2021 and has only previously visited her father’s home country.
Harry and Meghan have not disclosed whether the children attend the same school, and the school itself has not been identified. The couple has generally kept Archie and Lilibet away from regular public appearances and has not released details about their daily school routine.
The new school year follows weeks of preparation that began before the family’s flight from California. The Associated Press reported in August that Archie and Lilibet had already been enrolled in British schools and were expected to start classes in September.
At that point, the family had not yet completed the move. They arrived in Britain on August 26 and established a private home base outside London while retaining their Montecito residence.
Schooling Was Part of Harry’s Reason for Returning
Harry had been considering a longer return to Britain before the family’s plans became public. A source previously told PEOPLE that he had been “thinking about it for a while,” with his children’s connection to his home country playing a role.
The Duke of Sussex wants Archie and Lilibet “to understand the world he grew up in and where their family comes from,” another source told the outlet.
Meghan was also described as welcoming the opportunity for the children to experience life in both countries. A Montecito source said she felt fortunate that Archie and Lilibet could “experience both worlds.”
The children had begun spending more time in Britain before the relocation. During a summer visit, they saw King Charles for the first time in four years, having last been in the country together for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
The Sussexes Are Keeping Their California Home
The family’s return is intended to be an extended stay rather than a complete break from their life in the United States. Harry and Meghan have kept their home in Montecito, where Archie and Lilibet spent most of their childhood before the move.
They are living at a private, non-royal residence in Britain rather than returning to one of the royal family’s official properties. Their arrival also did not change Harry and Meghan’s status as non-working members of the royal family.
The focus during their first weeks back has remained on establishing a routine for the children. “Everything else will fall into place when the time is right,” the source close to the couple told PEOPLE, adding that Harry and Meghan are “happy to be back.”
Harry has already started making work appearances in Britain while Archie and Lilibet settle into classes. He was seen at Tower Bridge Studios in London on September 7, his first public sighting since the family’s return.