Archie and Lilibet move to second school in England after security concerns
Prince Harry and Meghan's children have moved to a second school in England after security concerns about the school run, while security reviews for the couple continue.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Latest developments
Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, have moved to a second school in England after starting at another school at the beginning of term. The change came after their family security team raised concerns about the practicalities of the daily school run. A spokesperson said the decision followed discussions with the security team and was not a reflection on the first school. The parents were grateful to staff for the care shown to their children.
The first school was chosen before term began. Security checks on the route are thought to have been carried out during the school holidays, when roads were quieter. Once term started, heavy traffic caused problems. Reports say the convoy became separated, the security vehicle fell behind, and the distance placed pressure on the couple's small private security team. The children had a taster session at a second school closer to home and started there.
Security reviews
The school move came as security arrangements for Harry and Meghan are being reassessed. The Home Office committee RAVEC, which oversees royal and VIP protection, is reviewing police protection now that the Sussexes are living in the UK. Harry had an assessment in July, when he was still based in the US, and a further assessment is now under way. Meghan is also being reassessed, with a risk management board for her for the first time since 2019 or 2020. At present, Harry has only the mobile phone number of a police liaison officer. RAVEC has asked the couple for details of their daily routines, including addresses and routes. No decision has been announced.
Harry and Meghan lost publicly funded security when they stepped back from royal duties and moved to the US in 2020. Harry challenged the decision in court and lost last May. He has said he could not bring his family back to the UK without adequate protection. Now they are residents rather than visitors, the facts have changed and the review is being reopened.
Palace confusion
Buckingham Palace has said the couple are private citizens and not working royals. A letter from the Lord Chamberlain said any charity work they do is as private citizens. The letter caused confusion. Uganda's Invictus Games team pulled out, apparently to avoid upsetting King Charles, then rejoined after the King's private secretary clarified that the King did not mind them taking part.
Reaction and politics
The security question has sparked political debate. Some argue Harry remains the King's son and a high-profile target, so the state should ensure protection. Others say the couple chose to step back, are wealthy, and should not expect taxpayers to pay. Critics have also asked why the school run was not sorted before the children started and have questioned the disruption for Archie and Lilibet. Supporters say the family faces real threats and that the decision is for security experts. A former head of royal protection said the issue is about risk and threat, not royal status, but criticised the Sussexes for publicising locations and suggested a simpler school run could reduce attention.
Harry's comments
On his birthday, Meghan posted family photographs on Instagram, with the children's faces hidden. Harry later said it was great to be back on British soil and that the children were happy in school. He said he was focused on the Invictus Games in Birmingham in July next year. The family is expected to take part in charity events in the coming weeks. The locations of the schools have not been disclosed.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | BBC Two | BBC TWO Politics Live | GB News | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| An independent security committee is expected to meet this week to consider taxpayer funding for Harry and Meghan's security. | ||||||||
| Security authorities are reviewing police protection and taxpayer-funded security for Harry and Meghan now they live in the UK, with Harry unlikely to receive 24-hour funding but possibly receiving protection at public engagements. | · | |||||||
| The Sussex children were withdrawn from their new school after two days because of security concerns. | · | · | ||||||
| RAVEC wrote to Prince Harry to request a full reassessment of his security. | · | · | · | · | ||||
| The royal household's letter described Harry and Meghan as private citizens and non-working royals. | · | · | · | · | ||||
| The security review was prompted by Prince Harry now living in the UK with his family. | · | · | · | · | ||||
| Harry and Meghan will make public appearances throughout the autumn. | · | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| Meghan will have her own security reassessment. | · | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| Prince Harry previously lost legal challenges over his security when visiting from the US. | · | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's spokesperson said they were surprised by the letter and had not been made aware of it before it was made public. | · | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| The Sussexes have been back in Britain less than a month, having moved from California last Thursday. | · | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| A former head of royal protection criticised Harry and Meghan for publicising locations and suggested avoiding a convoy. | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Focused on the political and constitutional question of taxpayer-funded security for Harry and Meghan. It framed the couple as private citizens who remain high-profile public figures, and it leaned on empathy for Harry as the King's son while noting the decision belongs to security officials.
- “Harry and Meghan, surprised by King's letter, making clear that they remain non-working royals.”
- “I think it's a decision for the King, but a view of Samantha, and I think this is the view of the Labour Party, Harry is still the son of the King.”
- “He is the son of the king. That is never going to change. They are very high profile public figures.”
Covered the story through a sceptical royal commentary lens, focusing on the briefing war, the Lord Chamberlain letter and doubts about taxpayer-funded security. Its later panel discussion was more critical, questioning the school move, publicity and titles, and comparing the Sussexes with the Prince and Princess of Wales.
- “What the Lord Chamberlain's letter was aiming to say was they're no longer members of the Royal Family and not being members of the Royal Family they're private citizens, end of.”
- “He won't get 24 hours security. He might well get security when he's out and about doing his pseudo royal engagements. But 24 hours I very much doubt the taxpayers will stand for that.”
- “Now, they have been taken out of their prep school for security reasons.”
Broke and developed the security review angle, explaining the practical school run problems and the role of RAVEC and risk management boards. It also linked the school move to the wider palace confusion over the Sussexes' status and the Invictus Games team row.
- “ITV News can reveal that Prince Harry's security arrangements are going to be reviewed.”
- “they started at their new British school following their move from California last Thursday, but it became apparent actually pretty much on day one that there wasn't a long-term or sustainable situation caused partly because where the school was, the traffic that it was creating and then security concerns”
- “the children had a taster session at another school, not far from their home, in fact a bit closer to their home and therefore they started there today.”
Gave straight news treatment to the security review and the school change, repeatedly noting the RAVEC process, Harry's failed court challenge and the family's new resident status. It also used Meghan's Instagram posts to illustrate the family's new life while keeping school locations private.
- “the committee which oversees Royal and VIP security, which is known as Ravec, is understood to be considering the level of police protection for Prince Harry and his family.”
- “a spokesperson for the family has confirmed the children have had to change schools just days into the new school term.”
- “the Sussexes will be given a review of their publicly funded security now that they are full-time residents rather than visitors.”
Led on the school move as breaking news and dug into the logistics of the school run, including traffic, distance, convoy separation and pressure on private security. Its studio discussion was more sceptical about the couple's planning and taxpayer-funded protection, though it also aired the former head of royal protection's view.
- “the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved their children to a new school after just two days over security concerns.”
- “We understand there was heavy traffic on the school run that the distances travelled to put a lot of pressure on the Sussexes' small private security firm.”
- “They've asked the couple for more information about their daily routines.”
Balanced the security review with Harry's later public comments, using his remarks that the children are happy in school and that he is focused on Invictus. It also set out the timeline of the school move and the couple's change from visitors to full-time residents.
- “Prince Harry has said it's great to be back in Britain and that his children are happy in school.”
- “Their children moved schools just after the start of term, after issues were raised by their security team.”
- “The kids are happy in school and it gives me a chance to be really focused on Invictus and the Birmingham Games July next year.”
Focused on the practical reasons for the school switch, especially rush-hour traffic and the security convoy becoming separated. It also gave space to a former head of royal protection who criticised the Sussexes for publicising locations and suggested a simpler school run, and it linked the change to the Home Office security review.
- “Harry and Meghan have pulled their children out of their new British school just days after they started due to security concerns over traffic.”
- “Rush hour traffic in a busy town meant the second car containing the bodyguards became separated.”
- “Don't tell anybody if you're moving school. Don't tell and show photographs of you on locations where you're likely to be if you're so worried about security.”
Who was on air
People and organisations each channel put on air while covering this story. Channels' own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed, and the list can miss people.
- 13:06 BST
Broadcast Timeline
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