Why Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet Aren't Expected to Join Prince Harry in the U.K. Next Month
Why Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet Aren't Expected to Join Prince Harry in the U.K. Next Month
Stephanie Petit, Simon PerryFri, June 12, 2026 at 8:31 PM UTC
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend Netflix's BEEF season 2 Montecito Tastemaker on April 10, 2026Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty -
Prince Harry will return to the U.K. next month for Invictus Games events, but Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are not currently expected to join him, sources tell PEOPLE
The update comes amid renewed speculation about a Sussex family return to Britain and reports of possible movement in Harry's long-running security battle
Security concerns remain the key obstacle, despite Harry's previously stated desire for Archie and Lilibet to reconnect with their British heritage
Prince Harry is heading back to Britain next month — but Meghan Markle and the couple's children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are not currently expected to join him.
The Duke of Sussex, 41, will travel to Birmingham in July for Invictus Games-related events ahead of the 2027 competition, which will be held in the city. The trip has sparked renewed speculation about whether Meghan, 44, and the couple's children could make a long-awaited return to the U.K., particularly after Harry previously expressed a desire for Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, to connect with their British heritage.
However, sources tell PEOPLE that, as things stand, the answer remains no. The reason remains the same issue that has kept the family from returning to Britain together in recent years: security.
In January, The Mail on Sunday reported that an official review had found Harry met the criteria for enhanced protection while in Britain. A source close to the Duke was quoted as saying at the time that security was effectively a "formality." But despite optimistic signals behind the scenes, no decision has been formally communicated.
While the situation could evolve before Harry's July trip, sources say expectations for Harry's July visit remain unchanged.
Prince Harry, Prince Archie, Princess Lilibet and Meghan MarkleCredit: Meghan Markle/Instagram
The prospect of another solo trip for Harry comes as the royal family gathers on Saturday, June 13, in London for Trooping the Colour, King Charles' annual birthday parade. Prince Harry and Meghan have not been invited to the event in recent years, and this year is no exception.
The celebration has also evolved since Queen Elizabeth's reign. In 2022, Buckingham Palace restricted the iconic balcony appearance to working members of the royal family, effectively transforming Trooping into a showcase for the monarchy's working royals under King Charles' slimmer-monarchy vision.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as working members of the royal family in 2020. They relocated to the Duchess of Sussex's home state of California, where they live with their children.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Australia in April 2026Credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan previously attended Invictus Games countdown events together, both in Germany (2022) and in Canada (2024).
While the Duke of Sussex has returned to his home country solo on several occasions in recent years, Meghan has not returned to the U.K. since 2022. Harry and Meghan were visiting England for a series of charity events when Queen Elizabeth died, and they extended their stay to attend her funeral and the surrounding events.
Prince Harry has said he does not feel safe bringing his wife and children to the U.K. since they were stripped of their state-funded security upon stepping back from their royal roles, and he's been involved in a legal battle to have his police protection reinstated.
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In a statement to the High Court in London, Prince Harry said that he needed security for his two children "to feel at home" in his native country.
"The U.K. is my home. The U.K. is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the United States," Harry said. "That cannot happen if there is no possibility to keep them safe when they are on U.K. soil."
"I can't put my wife in danger like that, and given my experiences in life, I'm reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm's way too," he added.
Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have only been back to the U.K. once since the couple left to settle in the U.S in 2020: for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. (Archie was born in the U.K., while Lilibet was born in California.)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Trooping the Colour in June 2018Credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage
The security issue has been a point of contention in the rift between Prince Harry and the rest of his family.
"I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore," he told the BBC.
"Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has," he continued, seemingly referring to the 77-year-old King's cancer diagnosis, which was announced in 2024. "He won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile."
Prince Harry and King Charles reunited on September 10, 2025, at the King's London residence, Clarence House. The father and son met for a private, 55-minute conversation, marking their first in-person meeting in 19 months.
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Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and Kate Middleton at Trooping the Colour in June 2019Credit: James Devaney/Getty
Prince Harry has been attending Trooping the Colour since childhood, and Meghan has joined the royals for the event on a few occasions. She made her debut at the annual parade just weeks after the couple's 2018 wedding, and the couple appeared again the following year, shortly after they welcomed their son, Archie. Both years, Meghan and Harry rode in a horse-drawn carriage in the procession and appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the day's finale.
Trooping the Colour was significantly scaled down in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The tradition was brought back in 2022, and Meghan and Harry attended the event as part of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. However, a change was made that year, permitting only working members of the family to take part in the parade and balcony appearance, so the Duke and Duchess of Sussex watched the festivities from the Major General's Office overlooking the Horse Guards Parade with other non-working members of the family.
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