Prince Harry Dropped a Major Hint About His Family’s Move Back to the U.K. Nearly a Year Ago

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to the U.K., and the Duke of Sussex said something that hinted at the relocation plans over a year ago.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving their family back to the U.K. after living in California for six years

The Duke of Sussex may have hinted at plans to relocate last year while speaking to singer Joss Stone, who recently returned to England after living in the U.S.

“He was saying how wonderful the schools are here and how important community is for children,” the singer said

Prince Harry may have dropped a major hint about his family’s move back to Britain nearly a year before it happened.

Harry and Meghan Markle will return to the U.K. this month, PEOPLE can reveal, with their son, Prince Archie, 7, and daughter, Princess Lilibet, 5, set to attend school there beginning in September. The location of the family’s private, non-royal home and the children’s school is being closely guarded.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex/Instagram

The Duke of Sussex appeared to foreshadow the move during a conversation with singer Joss Stone at the WellChild Awards in September 2025. Stone — who attended Harry and Meghan’s 2018 wedding — had recently returned to Britain with her own family after spending years living in Nashville, Tennessee.

Harry, 41, attended the annual London event in support of WellChild, the children’s charity he has served as patron of since 2007. During the evening, he spoke with Stone about her family’s decision to move home.

“He also asked about how we were settling back in and was genuinely interested in our move home. He’s just very warm and down to earth, as always. Maybe Harry will move back too. That would be nice,” the English singer, 39, told Hello!

Stone said Harry was particularly interested in what the move had meant for her children.

“He was saying how wonderful the schools are here and how important community is for children,” added Stone, a mother of four. “It was nice to share that with him because it’s exactly why we felt drawn to come back — for the kids to grow up surrounded by family, friends and a strong sense of belonging and, most importantly, in a safe environment.”

Stone, who portrayed royal queen Anne of Cleves in The Tudors, returned to her home county of Devon after living in the U.S. for 14 years. Speaking on the Nicky Byrne HQ podcast last year, Stone said of moving back to the U.K. with her American husband and four children, “I have my babies now, and my eldest baby needs to go to school. Also now there’s four of them, I really need my mum! You’ve got to have a village to bring kids up. Can’t do it on your own.”

Aaron Chown/Pool/Getty; Chris Jackson/Getty

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Harry and Meghan, 45, relocated to the duchess’ home state of California in 2020 after they stepped back as working members of the royal family.

During the couple’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, before they welcomed their daughter, Prince Harry opened up about the couple’s move to California with Archie.

“To have outdoor space where I can go for walks with Archie, and we go for walks as a family and with the dogs. You know, we go on hikes or go down to the beach, which is so close,” he said.

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While Prince Harry built a life for his family in Montecito, California, an insider recently told PEOPLE the Duke of Sussex has “always had one foot” in Britain.

“He’s never lived a life here where he hasn’t been entangled in his past life,” said the insider.