Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet 'really enjoying' their new school after abrupt move


The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's two children now attend school in the UK after previously being educated in Montecito, California


Exclusives badge in whitePrincess Lilibet, Prince Harry and Prince Archie for Father's Day
HELLO!
Eleanor DyeOnline Royal Correspondent
Emily NashRoyal EditorLondon
48 minutes ago

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are "really enjoying" their new school after moving to the UK, HELLO! can reveal.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's two children were enrolled at a British school in September after returning from Montecito, California, in August – but were pulled out of their first-choice institution after just two days over security concerns. 

The youngsters are now "settling in" swimmingly at their new school, meaning Harry and Meghan are able to work on upcoming projects, with the Duchess exploring options regarding a return to acting. 

A source told HELLO!: "Her diary is full. It's the kids, As Ever, acting and then supporting good causes in whatever time she has left over. But she's got a really good team around As Ever, the children are a bit older, they are both in school full time.

Archie and Lilibet walking through park© Instagram / @meghan
Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in the UK

"They've got the kids settled. Archie and Lili are really enjoying school. She is able to now stick her head above the parapet a little bit more. It's a case of having a little bit more time to re-look at her original career, her vocation as an actor."

The exact location of the school, and where the Sussexes are living, has not been revealed for privacy reasons, though they are reported to be based in the Cotswolds and living in a non-royal residence.

WATCH: Archie and Lilibet enjoy stroll through deer park

Harry previously told Canadian TV network CTV that things were going "great" after completing a skydive at the end of September.

"The kids are happy in school, and it gives me a chance to really focus on Invictus in Birmingham," he said.

Harry and Meghan's strongly worded statement after school security alert

Though Archie and Lilibet are happy at their new school, their parents were forced to issue a strongly worded statement following a security scare in September. 

Two men with backpacks were seen walking around the perimeter of the school, stopping at various points and looking into the grounds. 

Following a police investigation, they were identified as international photographers for a European press agency.

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, standing together in formal attire.© Getty Images
Harry and Meghan were forced to issue a statement after a security alert

A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said at the time: "The decision by photographers to conduct themselves in this way around a school is extraordinarily reckless. 

"There is a world of difference between legitimate media activity and photographers walking the perimeter of a school, stopping to look into the grounds and monitoring children as they go about their day.

"It is concerning enough that certain European paparazzi appear unwilling to respect the privacy of children at school. But to behave in this manner in these particular circumstances, and so soon after the incident at RAF Fairford, demonstrates an extraordinary lack of judgment.

"Whatever photographs they may have been seeking, this was not only an unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of children; it was an irresponsible and ill-considered way to conduct themselves in the vicinity of a school."

Why did Archie and Lilibet change schools?

HELLO! revealed exclusively in September that Archie and Lilibet had been pulled out of their first-choice school after just two days.

Their parents reluctantly withdrew them on the advice of their security team after practicalities, including heavy traffic and distance, made it difficult to get to and from the school. 

Meghan with Archie and Lilibet in the garden© Instagram / @meghan
Archie and Lilibet have attended two different schools

It meant their small, private security team was put under strain. 

"They really wanted to make it work, but they had to make a difficult decision based on the fact that the team couldn’t make the school run operationally secure," a friend of the couple said.

The Sussexes, who are completing their first joint engagement since returning to the UK in Nottingham on Thursday, are currently awaiting the outcome of a risk assessment to determine whether they will be granted protection by RAVEC.

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