00:00Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have moved their children to a new school just days after enrolling
00:04them, with a royal expert calling the decision another example of the couple failing to plan
00:10for the practical realities of their new life in the UK. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex pulled
00:15seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet from their original school
00:19just two days into the new term, after their security team reportedly raised concerns about
00:24the daily commute. According to Hello! magazine, heavy traffic in the area and the distance
00:29between the school and the family's home made it difficult for their small private
00:33security team to keep the school run operationally secure. A representative for the couple said
00:39the decision was made after discussions with their security team about the practicalities
00:43of their existing arrangements, adding that the parents remained grateful to the teachers
00:47and staff and that the move should not be viewed as a reflection of the school. The family had
00:52reportedly completed security checks at the school before the term began, but they were
00:57unable to test the actual school run. The children were enrolled in another nearby school, with
01:02Harry reportedly spotted with Lilibet in a reception area. The school switch came as Harry and Megan
01:07were also granted a government-backed security review following their return to the UK. The couple were
01:12asked to provide details of their daily routines, including their school runs, as officials assess
01:17their security needs. Harry has been fighting for greater protection in the UK for years after losing his
01:23automatic taxpayer-funded security following his decision to step back from royal duties in 2020.
01:29At the time, a friend of the couple told The Telegraph that the school runs would be the most
01:34danger for the family now that they were back in Britain without taxpayer-funded security.
01:39Meghan has also spoken publicly about her concerns over her children's privacy, including paparazzi
01:44potentially photographing them during school drop-offs and pickups. But the timing of the school change
01:49the couple's own social media posts have prompted some criticism. Just one day before the school news
01:55broke, Meghan shared an intimate video showing the family enjoying their new life in the UK,
02:00including Lilibet riding a bike, Archie running alongside her, and Harry taking the children out on a
02:06boat. Royal expert Kinsey Schofield questioned why the traffic and distance were not identified
02:11before the children started school. She said locals had warned her that the area was notoriously
02:16difficult to navigate during school drop-off and that the family's location meant the journey could
02:21take around 45 minutes each way, potentially requiring four trips a day because of the children's
02:26different schedules. Schofield called the situation another example of Harry and Meghan choosing a more
02:31complicated route before discovering that the complications were difficult to manage.
02:36However, crisis communications expert Ryan McCormick said the decision could simply reflect the
02:41couple's genuine concern for their children's safety, adding that everything Harry and Meghan do
02:46receives heightened scrutiny because of who they are. The school controversy has unfolded just weeks
02:51after the couple returned to England with their move continuing to attract attention from both royal
02:56watchers and the British government. And amid the scrutiny, Meghan publicly celebrated Harry's 42nd birthday
03:02with a series of family photos and videos, calling her husband simply the best and sharing glimpses of their
03:09life together. The Sussexes are reportedly house hunting in the Cotswolds as they settle into their new life in Harry's
03:15home country.
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