Prince Harry Seeks British Heritage for His Children After Leaving Royal Life

Clear Facts

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle returned to the United Kingdom this fall for an extended stay, with their children Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, beginning school in England.
• Harry has stated he wants his children to understand their British roots and royal heritage, yet experts point to a contradiction given his earlier criticism of the monarchy.
• The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from royal duties more than six years ago and relocated to California, later signing contracts with Netflix and Spotify.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have returned to the United Kingdom for an extended stay. Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have started school in England.

Harry expressed a desire for his children to understand the world he grew up in and where their family comes from. This comes after years of criticism toward the royal family.

“Harry spent years telling us why he needed to escape royal life, said his father and brother were trapped, but now appears determined to make sure his children understand and retain their connection to it,” Kinsey Schofield, host of YouTube’s “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered,” told Fox News Digital.

“Perhaps with time and distance, he has realized that walking away from royal duties was much easier than walking away from the history, family and identity that came with them,” Schofield said. “Ultimately, Harry may finally be recognizing what has always seemed so obvious to the rest of us — being born a prince is an unbelievable privilege.”

Harry and Meghan stepped back as working royals and moved to California more than six years ago. They later signed contracts with Netflix and Spotify in an effort to become financially independent.

“It is totally understandable that Harry wants Archie and Lilibet to grow up appreciating their British heritage, traditions and knowing their extended family,” British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. “But after all he has said and done, it’s highly unlikely the family will ever trust Harry or welcome them all back into the family fold.”

“It would have been surprising if he felt California was like home or in any way comparable to anything his children could experience in the U.K.,” Fordwich argued. “He has expressed wanting his children to understand their paternal history.”

In interviews and his memoir “Spare,” the couple claimed they left Britain to escape the restrictions of royal life. They also criticized palace officials for being insensitive to Meghan’s mental health and alleged that at least one member of the royal family expressed racist views while she was pregnant.

“Harry and Meghan want their children to build close relationships with their cousins, in fact, the whole British royal family,” British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital.

“Allegedly, this was one of the deciding factors in their U.K. return. It is understandable at this point why the family will keep their distance from the Sussexes. Harry and Meghan, for their children’s sake, should work towards peace with the family. Not just a sweeping statement about reconciliation and doing the exact opposite. But Harry will absolutely want his children to understand their heritage and that they are part of the British royal family.”

A source told People magazine that the decision to leave California for an extended period was not easy for Meghan. The family has been planning the move for some time and believes it is the right decision for their children.

Schofield noted that Harry is eager for his children to have a closer relationship with their grandfather, King Charles III. Archie and Lilibet are grandchildren of the king, and their uncle, Prince William, is next in line to the throne.

“I think Harry has reached a point where he recognizes that Britain is a huge part of his children’s identity,” Schofield said. “Archie and Lili are grandchildren of the king. Their grandfather is on the currency. Their uncle will be king. Their cousins are the future of the monarchy. They would be given privileges and opportunities in the U.K. that they simply wouldn’t attract in the States.”

“I think Harry wants to reopen the royal door, but perhaps on his own terms,” Schofield continued. “The problem is that the monarchy has never operated that way. Harry may want his children to enjoy the history, relationships and privileges that come with being part of the royal family while maintaining the independence he chose in 2020. That tension has been at the heart of this story from the very beginning.”

“That is the uncomfortable reality: You can bring your children to the U.K. and surround them with British traditions, but their most meaningful connection to Britain is their family. If Harry genuinely wants Archie and Lilibet to understand their royal heritage, eventually he has to confront the fact that his children barely know the relatives who embody it.”

Archie was a baby when his parents left the U.K. in 2020. Lilibet was born in California in 2021. Their last visit to the U.K. before this year’s relocation was in July for a private family trip that included a reunion with the king at Highgrove House.

A source told People magazine that Harry and his father spoke by phone during the Duke of Sussex’s first week back in the U.K. The two have yet to meet in person again since the Sussexes returned on Aug. 26. Multiple royal experts noted that Harry and his older brother, Prince William, have not spoken since 2022.

“Harry cannot expect the children to repair what the adults have broken,” Schofield said. “Any meaningful relationships between the cousins would require trust between their parents first.”

“Prince William is going to prioritize his three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and their privacy. If Harry wants those relationships for his children, rebuilding trust with William becomes increasingly important. And I do think that burden is on Harry. Any pressure on Prince William to reconcile is wildly unfair.”

“Archie is seven now,” Schofield said. “He is old enough to ask questions and understand that his family circumstances are unusual. At some point, Britain stops being a story Harry tells his children and becomes something they will want to experience and understand for themselves. Harry then has to decide whether he wants them connected simply to Britain or genuinely connected to the royal family.”

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