Prince Harry is set to resume public outings in Britain, though royal status is unclear

Prince Harry with his wife Meghan in Sydney, Australia, in April 2026. Photo by Jonathan Brady-Pool/Getty Images

Article content

Prince Harry and wife Meghan have kept a low profile since returning to Britain three weeks ago but, as his first public engagements loom, tensions over their security and monarchy relationship have surfaced.

Article content

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex relocated from California on August 26 and have not spoken publicly yet, nor even issued a public statement officially confirming the surprise move.

Article content

Article content

Article content

However, in recent days Meghan has used her personal Instagram account to offer glimpses of their new U.K. life, coinciding with the prince’s 42nd birthday on Tuesday.

Article content

Article content

Reportedly now based in central England’s Cotswolds region, she posted a montage of family videos — featuring their son Archie, 7, and daughter Lilibet, 5 as well as their two dogs — enjoying the English countryside.

Article content

Prior to that, King Charles III’s youngest son had only been seen publicly on September 7, when photographs of a visit to a London recording studio appeared on Instagram.

Article content

Harry’s presence back in Britain is set to become more visible later this week, when he is due to appear at several events linked to his Invictus Games charity for wounded veterans.

Article content

He will attend a September 21 awards ceremony for the WellChild charity, which he has been a patron of for nearly two decades.

Article content

The couple’s shock return has featured prominently across Britain’s newspapers and on television news bulletins, but the media has complied with a request not to reveal their exact new whereabouts or which schools their children are attending.

Article content

Article content

However, several outlets reported Monday that both children had changed schools just a few days into term over security fears.

Article content

Article content

The Sussexes’s private security team had raised concerns over the length of their original daily journeys and heavy traffic on the route, according to the BBC, citing a source close to the pair.

Article content

U.K. media also reported this week that the independent body responsible for deciding which politicians, royals and others get police protection will review whether to reinstate their taxpayer-funded security.

Article content

Harry had previously ruled out returning to Britain due to security concerns after losing a years-long legal battle to retain the publicly subsidized protection while living in the United States.

Article content

It had been withdrawn following their 2020 decision to quit Britain and royal duties amid a bitter feud with other senior royal family members.

Article content

Harry has since reconciled with his father, but reportedly remains estranged from his elder brother and heir-to-throne Prince William.

Article content

His and Meghan’s sudden relocation “to some extent caught the royal household off guard”, royal expert Ed Owens told AFP.