According to reports, Meghan Markle and Harry have been weighing whether to send their children to UK or US schools.
There could be fresh tension brewing for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, if rumours of him scouting British schools for their kids are true.
Speculation that the Duke of Sussex is contemplating sending Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to school in the UK erupted after singer Joss Stone spilled the beans on a recent chat she’d had with the royal.
After having lived in the country for over a decade, the singer revealed Harry seemed “genuinely interested in our move home” and praised the “how wonderful the schools are here and how important community is for children” in the country.
READ MORE: Coco&Eve launches ‘must have’ bonding hair mask that makes hair ‘so soft’
Then, according to reports, Harry allegedly looked into Eton College for Archie, who was six years old, in part because of the “high profile and politically exposed kids there” and because of Britain’s much stricter gun laws.
Team Sussex issued a blunt response to the rumours, stating: “ Prince Harry has not put his son’s name down for Eton, nor does he have any plans to do so.” Despite the denial, there’s still much chatter about whether he might have his eye on one of the many other elite British schools known for their royal and aristocratic alumni.
Royal expert Lydia Alto believes the issue of schooling could become a “fault line” dividing public opinion on the couple given Meghan’s rumored finding the idea of boarding schools “barbaric” and showing no signs of desire to return to the UK for a short time.
She claims that “it could very well turn into a major source of tension in the future.” “Hugh will almost certainly back down if Meghan consistently presents herself as the decision-maker in their family,” she said.
If Meghan believes it to be cruel, he might find it difficult to imagine him fighting for a British education despite his desire for the children to follow in his own footsteps. Unlike day schools, boarding schools offer a sense of stability, independence, and opportunity for some, especially royals or military families with demanding duties.
She adds that Meghan “calling the final shots” would likely help to resolve the problem. Harry’s past willingness to sacrifice his military responsibilities, his family ties, and even his reputation in the UK for Meghan’s comfort suggests that he won’t fight for their children.
“As a result of Meghan’s attempts to educate them here, it would be another bridge that has been quietly burned, and it would also be another factor making Archie and Lilibet grow up more aloof from their British parents.”
Harry first began his education at Ludgrove School, just like William had done a few years prior, at London’s private Wetherby School, before enrolling in Ludgrove School at the age of eight.
He re-enrolled at Eton College at the age of 13, but his later tales reveal that he had nothing but a good time.
Harry described his time at the Berkshire school as a “profound shock” in his bombshell autobiography Spare, claiming that despite being “heaven for brilliant boys, it could only be purgatory for one very unbrilliant boy.”
He also revealed that his big brother William had a bad attitude toward settling in in 2023. Harry claims that he even told the newcomer to act as though they weren’t acquainted.
The Duke addressed Anderson Cooper, a television host, by saying, “At the time, it hurt.” “I couldn’t understand it,” he said. Apart from any potential educational benefits, royal watcher Lydia believes that sending Archie and Lilibet to a British school would be very helpful for Harry in establishing his family’s presence in the country.
He’s also made no secret of his desire for his kids to “feel at home” in the UK, and said after his recent visit here – which included a much talked-about cup of tea with his dad, King Charles – that he has always and will always “love” his homeland.
You can see why Harry might want his kids to be educated in the UK, Lydia said. It’s important to focus on heritage, tradition, and maintaining lifelong bonds while attending an elite level of education, especially for students at the elite level.
Sending his children to a British school could be a way to make sure they aren’t completely disconnected from his side of the family, according to a prince who insists he hasn’t turned his back on his country. Whatever his reservations may be, he still values his British heritage, which would be reinforced by this statement.
More uncertainty surrounds Harry’ future after his recent trip to the UK, which was officially his first encounter with his father in 19 months and was held for the annual WellChild Awards.
Speaking after the trip, Harry said: “It’s been good to reconnect with the causes I am passionate about… It is hard to do it from far away,” possibly hinting he could become a more frequent visitor. But whether Archie and Lilibet will factor into the decision remains to be seen.
