Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to move Archie and Lilibet to another school after just two days has raised fresh questions over the planning of the Sussexes’ return to Britain, with security experts questioning why the school route appears not to have been properly tested during term time.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex withdrew their children from their first British school after their security team became concerned about the practicalities of the daily journey from the family’s new home.
The problem was reportedly not the school itself, but the commute. Heavy traffic left the Sussex convoy struggling to remain together, with the children reportedly spending time stationary in traffic and the security team concerned that the repeated journey could not be operated safely.
The development has prompted criticism from former senior police and royal protection officers, who have questioned whether the Sussexes’ move to Britain was sufficiently planned.
Prince Harry wears a Santa Barbara Fire Department cap as he kisses his daughter Lilibet, five, in pictures shared by Meghan today to mark his 42nd birthday
Harry and Meghan’s security team advised the couple that traffic on the school run and the distance covered was putting a strain on them
Harry drives a quad bike with Lilibet and Archie in the back, in a post shared by Meghan… The Sussex convoy was split up due to congestion this week, with their security team raising fears
Questions over the school route
Former Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Dal Babu described the situation as evidence that Harry and Meghan may have “rushed” their relocation.
“It does beggar belief why they haven’t thought this through,” he said, questioning why the arrangements had not been made in good time.
Dai Davies, a former head of royal protection, also questioned whether such a high-profile convoy was necessary for the school run.
He suggested that keeping a lower profile could make the family less conspicuous and asked whether Harry and Meghan really needed to travel in convoy with their two young children.
Meghan and Harry kiss while Lilibet and Archie are seen playing in the background, in one of the nine images that she shared on Instagram today
In another picture, Harry plays archery with Archie… He and Meghan are said to be extremely grateful for the ‘exceptional care’ the children received at their prep school
The comments come after reports that the security team was unable to properly assess the approximately hour-long school journey under normal term-time conditions.
According to ITV News, the concerns included how long the children would be stationary in traffic, whether the family and security vehicles could remain together, the repeated nature of the route and the overall length of the commute.
The security team subsequently assessed the alternative school on Friday. Archie and Lilibet attended a taster session on Monday before beginning their first full day there on Tuesday.
Meghan shared scenes of the family enjoying the British countryside as they settled into life in the UK
Parents were reportedly baffled
The decision has also surprised parents connected to the first school.
One mother with two children there said the Sussexes’ decision to choose the school had initially been regarded as a coup and had generated considerable excitement among parents.
But she said parents were now “completely baffled”, arguing that the congestion in the area was obvious and describing it as one of the worst places to drive in the UK.
Another mother reportedly reacted to the slow school run by saying that the traffic problems were “obviously going to happen”.
The criticism has centred on the security planning rather than the school itself.
A spokesman for Harry and Meghan stressed that the children’s move was made after discussions with their security team about the practicalities of their existing arrangements.
The spokesman said the couple remained extremely grateful to the teachers and staff for the care their children had received and insisted that the decision should not be interpreted as a criticism of the school.
A friend of the couple similarly said Harry and Meghan had loved the school and that it had otherwise been “perfect” for the family. The problem, the friend said, was that the security team could not make the daily journey operationally secure.
Archie and Lilibet spent just 48 hours at the school
Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, had attended the prep school for only two days before their parents reluctantly withdrew them.
The family had moved from California to Britain in August, and the children had only just begun their new school year when the decision was made.
Reports indicate that the alternative school is considerably closer to the family’s home, making the daily journey shorter and easing concerns within the Sussex security operation.
The children have now begun attending the new school.
The timing has made the episode particularly notable because Harry and Meghan’s return to Britain has already placed their security arrangements under renewed scrutiny.
Harry’s security is also being reviewed
The school controversy coincided with news that Harry’s access to publicly funded police protection is being reviewed following the family’s move back to the UK.
The Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as Ravec, has informed Harry that his security arrangements will undergo a fresh assessment now that he is living in Britain with Meghan and their children.
Meghan will also have her own Risk Management Board assessment. ITV News reported that this will be the first review of the potential risks facing her since the couple stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
Harry himself had already undergone a new Risk Management Board assessment in July, only around eight weeks earlier. However, that assessment took place before officials knew the family intended to relocate permanently to Britain.
The new reviews therefore take into account the changed circumstances, including the family’s new residence and the children attending school in the UK.
The decision to conduct another assessment does not automatically mean Harry or Meghan will receive increased protection.
Harry’s long-running battle over police protection
Security has been a major point of contention between Harry and the Home Office since he and Meghan left the monarchy and moved to California.
Harry has argued that his position as the son of the monarch, fifth in line to the throne and a former British Army officer who served two tours in Afghanistan means that he faces significant security risks.
He has previously challenged the decision to remove his automatic entitlement to publicly funded police protection while in Britain, but lost his legal battle.
Harry has also argued that the current arrangement does not provide meaningful protection. According to ITV News, the Sussexes have been given the contact details of a police liaison officer, while additional interim security measures have been put in place around their new home.
The couple also pays privately for their own security personnel. However, their private protection officers in Britain cannot carry firearms or access intelligence available to British police and security agencies.
The Home Office has declined to provide details about the arrangements, saying the UK’s protective security system is “rigorous and proportionate” and that revealing operational information could compromise security.
King’s letter added to the tension
The security review also follows a recent intervention from Buckingham Palace concerning Harry and Meghan’s status.
Earlier this month, a letter from the Lord Chamberlain made clear that the Sussexes remain non-working royals and that their position is treated as being akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.
The couple were reportedly surprised by the timing of the letter, which emerged shortly before a Ravec meeting concerning security arrangements. Harry’s camp reportedly suspected that the palace communication could influence the committee’s decision. Those claims were disputed, with the palace maintaining that the letter was intended to provide clarity about the couple’s status rather than interfere with the security process.
The subsequent decision to carry out fresh risk assessments for both Harry and Meghan appears to have eased one aspect of those concerns, although it does not guarantee the return of taxpayer-funded protection.
Meghan marks Harry’s 42nd birthday
The school controversy unfolded on Harry’s 42nd birthday, which Meghan marked by sharing a series of family photographs on social media.
The images featured Harry, Meghan, Archie, Lilibet and their Labrador, Pula, as the family continued settling into life in Britain.
In one photograph, Harry kisses Lilibet, while another shows him carrying her bicycle. Another image shows Harry driving a quad bike with Archie and Lilibet sitting behind him as their dog follows.
Meghan captioned the collection with a birthday message describing Harry as “simply the best”.
The photographs presented a relaxed picture of family life in the British countryside, in contrast to the security concerns surrounding the children’s school move.
For now, Archie and Lilibet have begun at a new school closer to home, while Harry and Meghan await the outcome of the latest security assessments.
The move has resolved the immediate problem of the difficult school commute, but the questions surrounding the Sussexes’ security arrangements—and whether their return to Britain was adequately planned—are likely to continue.