Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have changed schools for their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, only days after the new term began. A spokesperson for the couple said the decision followed discussions with their security team about the practicalities of the family’s arrangements. The spokesperson emphasized that the move was not a reflection of the school or its staff, whom the family remained grateful to for their care. Reports suggest that the distance from the family’s current Cotswolds base, combined with heavy traffic and the logistics of transporting two children on different schedules, made the daily journey difficult for their security team to manage. A friend of the couple told Hello! that the children had enjoyed the school and that the family had hoped to make the arrangement work, but ultimately decided a change was necessary.

The decision has since attracted attention, particularly from royal commentator Kinsey Schofield, who argued that some of the logistical challenges could have been anticipated before the children were enrolled. Schofield pointed to the area’s busy school-run traffic and the length of the journey as factors that made the arrangement complicated. She also connected the situation to Harry’s ongoing concerns about security for his family while living in the UK. Harry is awaiting a decision from the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as RAVEC, regarding security arrangements for his family. While the Sussexes have not suggested that the school itself was unsuitable, the quick change has prompted discussion about how difficult it can be to balance education, location, privacy and security when raising children under intense public attention. For now, the family appears focused on finding an arrangement that works better for their circumstances.