Andy Burnham says Sussex security is a private matter as Harry and Meghan plan UK return

London: Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have decided to move back to the UK with their two children later this month but will remain non-working members of the royal family, according to UK media reports. Harry, the younger son of King Charles III, relocated with his family to the US six years ago after stepping back from frontline royal duties.The 41-year-old and his former Hollywood actress wife are expected to reside in a non-royal residence outside London, media reports said late on Wednesday. The couple are said to have enrolled their children, seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet, in a British school from the start of the new term in September.Buckingham Palace said it does not comment on developments related to non-working members of the royal family. However, it is understood that the King was made aware of the move, first reported in 'The Daily Telegraph’ and ‘The Sun’, on Sunday.Lindsay Clancy Murder Trial: Psychologist Says She Could Not Appreciate 'Wrongfulness' of Killing Her 3 Children The matter had not been discussed when Harry and Meghan, 45, were hosted at Charles’ Highgrove home in Gloucestershire for a "private family occasion" last month, when the King met his two grandchildren after a long hiatus. While it is expected that the King naturally welcomes the opportunity to see more of his younger son and his family in a private and personal capacity, there will be no alteration to their role and status as private individuals. This is seen as in keeping with the couple’s clearly expressed wishes and agreement since 2020, as there remains no "half in and half out" option in terms of official royal duties. There have been no official statements from either the palace or the Duke and Duchess Sussex's representatives. Harry has previously expressed serious concerns for the security of his family, with him even resorting to legal avenues to ensure high-level armed protection despite being a non-working royal. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said their security would be a "private matter”. "It's a matter for Harry and Meghan, and we wish them well in the move that they're making," he said, responding to a question about whether the government would foot the bill for the family's protection when they return to the UK. The UK Home Office insisted the government's protective security system is "rigorous and proportionate". Donald Trump Announces 'Most Crushing' Economic Campaign Against Iran, Warns Countries Against Doing Business"It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals' security," a spokesperson said. After losing a court battle over the security issue last year, Prince Harry had said he hoped to rebuild relations with his family. “I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore... I don't know how much longer my father has,” he told the BBC, referencing the King's ongoing cancer treatment. The Sussexes, as the couple is known, have had a tumultuous relationship with the royal family since relocating to a mansion in the exclusive southern California enclave of Montecito in 2020. Harry, who remains fifth in the line of succession to the British throne, has had a particularly stormy relationship with his older brother and future king William.In his explosive memoir 'Spare’, he said he left Britain to escape the restrictions of royal life and criticised palace officials for being insensitive to his wife's mental health. There had also been allegations that at least one member of the royal family had expressed racist views when Meghan, who is bi-racial, was pregnant with their first child. The palace had described the claims as "concerning" and famously issued a statement to say that "recollections may vary" and will be dealt with privately.

Prince Harry, right, and Meghan Markle, left, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, arrive at the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (Anvam) in Southbank, Melbourne, Australia Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Andy Burnham has shrugged off queries about how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be protected once they return to the UK.Harry and Meghan moved to the US in 2020 after choosing to step down from their royal duties but will be relocating to a non-royal residence outside of London later this month.The Duke of Sussex, who is fifth in line to the British throne, lost a legal challenge over how much state-funded security he and his family are entitled to while in Britain last year.His trip to the UK last month was even put on hold briefly after his request for policy protection was rejected.The revelation that he is now bringing his wife and two children back to the UK has therefore come as a shock.When asked how the non-working royals will be protected while in Britain, the prime minister said their security a “private matter”.“Well, this is a private matter,” he told reporters while on a visit to West Yorkshire. “It’s a matter for for Harry and for Megan, and we wish them well in the moves that they’re making.”Education secretary Lucy Powell also told LBC: “I think that the vast majority of your listeners will welcome that news and – they obviously are not working royals anymore – and want to come back to this country.“I assume because we do have great schools, great education, that’s why many people do return to this country and choose this country to bring up their children in.“And I hope that this is all part of a bigger reconciliation for the family because you know the royal family is very important to this country and to our reputation around the world, and you know I for one think it’s great to have Harry and Meghan and their family back here.”Harry and Meghan’s children, seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet, are in the line of succession behind their father.They have been enrolled in a British school from September onwards, suggesting the Sussexes intend to be back in the UK for the long-haul.Harry and his family went to visit his father King Charles in July in Highgrove, though it’s thought their move back to Britain was not discussed. The monarch was reportedly only told about their decision to relocate on Sunday, though he is said to welcome the idea of seeing his family more in a personal capacity.Harry and Meghan are expected to continue living as private individuals.Their return to the UK comes six years after the Sussexes dramatically fell out with the Royal Family and moved across the Atlantic amid heightened press scrutiny.While the couple’s relationship with Charles and his wife Queen Camilla appears to be on the mend after their July visit, it’s unclear if they have built bridges with the Prince and Princess of Wales.The King had not see his grandchildren for more than four years prior to the Sussexes’ trip earlier this summer, and the Duke of Sussex previously said security fears had stopped him bringing his family to the UK.Harry and Meghan have not been seen publicly in the UK since they attended the 2022 funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.A Home Office spokesperson said decision on the security of royals were taken by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures.They said: “The UK government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate.“It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.” The Home Office, the Metropolitan Police and the royal household all sit on that executive committee.They work together to advise the independent chair in making decisions, based on expert risk assessments and in line with government policy.Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.Related...Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Are Moving Back To The UKNetflix Boss Shuts Down Fresh Prince Harry And Meghan Markle ReportsCritics Are All Saying The Same Thing About Meghan Markle's Festive Netflix Special