With the Sussexes living in the U.K. again, some are bringing up one reason Meghan previously said she couldn’t live there, even though the Princess of Wales has no problem doing it every day.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been making waves lately as the couple returned to England with their children nearly six years after stepping back from royal duties and moving to America. The move sparked real conversation about what freedom struggle looks like for high-profile figures seeking privacy and security.
It’s clear things didn’t work out for them stateside, which has many wondering why they came back to the U.K. The whole situation is still raising eyebrows though, especially given that Harry insisted his family wasn’t safe in his home country and needed full-time security just to visit. Now that they’re here, old comments from Meghan Markle are resurfacing—particularly about why she said staying in Britain would be impossible.
The duchess made some pretty specific claims back in 2022 that are hitting different now that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have started school.
During an interview with The Cut, Meghan said continuing to live in the U.K. with her children would’ve been too hard because she’d “never be able to do school pickups and drop-offs without it being a royal photocall with a press pen of 40 people snapping pictures.” She emphasized this wasn’t about being obsessed with privacy, but about being a protective parent—a stance many parents, regardless of their background, can relate to when thinking about their own curated reading list of parenting advice.
The Suits alum went on to say, “Sorry, I have a problem with that. That doesn’t make me obsessed with privacy. That makes me a strong and good parent protecting my child.”
But here’s where it gets interesting: the Princess of Wales (formerly Kate Middleton) and Prince William actually do school pickups and drop-offs with their children almost every single day. Though everyone in Britain knows which school their kids attend and the route they take, there’s no media frenzy like Meghan described. It seems Meghan Markle may have underestimated how the royals manage these moments.
Photos of the children happen on their first days of school, but they’re either pre-organized with the Palace or taken by Kate herself to share on social media with royal fans—not chaotic paparazzi shots.
Because the Waleses handle pickups and drop-offs without interference, it challenges Meghan’s claim about a press frenzy. However, The Sun reported that a friend of the Sussexes said having a regular drop-off and pick-up time increases security risks, so “the school run is a tricky issue and I understand they are nervous about it.” It’s a valid concern that speaks to the real tensions between public life and personal safety.
Archie and Lilibet have already started school in the U.K. It’s unclear if the duke and duchess have decided to handle school runs themselves or hired someone to manage them. What we do know is the family is paying for their own private security at all times. It’s been estimated to cost $3 to $4 million a year, which raises questions about how they’ll sustain that financial commitment long-term.
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