Prince Harry is prioritizing security before considering a visit to the U.K. with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
“He wants to ensure the safety of himself and his family while in the U.K. so his children can know his home country and so he can help support his patronages and their important work,” a source close to the situation shared with Us Weekly on January 27.
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have lived in the United States. While they have returned to the U.K. for various occasions, their children have not visited since 2022. (Archie is now 5, and Lilibet is 3.)
Harry is currently appealing a High Court ruling that upheld the 2020 decision to revoke publicly funded security for him and his family. This legal battle, set for April 2025, is a crucial step toward ensuring a safe return to the U.K. for his children.
According to HELLO! magazine, a successful appeal could also improve Harry’s relationship with his father, King Charles III, and allow for more frequent visits. The publication described the case as “fundamentally important” to the future of Harry and his family.
Legal Battles and Media Settlements
This isn’t the only legal challenge Harry has faced. Earlier this month, he reached a settlement with News Group Newspapers (NGN), which owns The Sun, over allegations of unlawful information gathering.
NGN issued an apology and paid “substantial damages” for the “serious intrusion” into Harry’s personal life. Their statement, shared with Us Weekly, acknowledged wrongdoing:
“NGN offers a full and unequivocal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the serious intrusion by The Sun between 1996 and 2011 into his private life, including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun.”
Harry called the settlement a “monumental victory,” stating, “Today the lies are laid bare. Today, the cover-ups are exposed. And today proves that no one stands above the law. The time for accountability has arrived.”
This follows another legal win against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), which owns the Daily Mail. In June 2023, Harry became the first royal in 130 years to testify in court, alleging unlawful information gathering, including phone hacking. A judge later ruled in his favor, citing “sufficient proof” that MGN had engaged in such practices.
While Harry continues his fight for justice and security, the outcome of his appeal in April could determine whether his children will soon experience their father’s homeland firsthand.