Prince Harry, Meghan Markle plan return to the UK: A timeline of their royal journey
News of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, planning a move back to the United Kingdom with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, is putting a spotlight back on the royal couple.
Take a look back at their journey from marrying in the U.K. to stepping away from their senior royal roles and moving to California as they get ready to start a new chapter.
November 2016
Prince Harry confirms that he and American actress Meghan Markle are dating in a statement in which he also condemns some of the press coverage surrounding Meghan and says he will not tolerate "harassment and abuse."
November 2017
Harry and Meghan announce their engagement in a statement released by Clarence House, his father's royal residence at the time.
May 19, 2018
Harry and Meghan wed at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in a star-studded ceremony attended by extended members of the British royal family. Upon their marriage, the couple became known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
May 6, 2019
The couple announce the birth of their first child, a son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
October 2019
Harry releases an impassioned statement in which he accuses the British tabloid press of waging "a ruthless campaign" against his wife.
Harry and Meghan would go on to launch a total of six lawsuits against members of the British tabloid press in the following years.
January 2020
Harry and Meghan announce they will "step back as senior members of the royal family." They move away from the U.K., spending time in Canada before purchasing a home in Montecito, California.
Spring 2020
Harry and his family are denied automatic taxpayer-funded police protection while in Britain following his and Meghan’s decision to step away from their senior royal roles. The ruling by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures sparks a yearslong court battle and appears to widen the rift between Harry and some members of the royal family.
March 9, 2020
Harry and Meghan attend their last official engagement in the U.K., joining members of the royal family at a Commonwealth Day service at London's Westminster Abbey.
March 2021
Harry and Meghan sit down with Oprah Winfrey for a tell-all interview, during which the couple revealed several bombshells, including Meghan's mental health struggles, allegations of racism in the royal family and their financial situation.
June 4, 2021
Harry and Meghan's second child is born, a daughter they name Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.
Sept. 19, 2022
Harry and Meghan attend the funeral of Harry's grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, alongside other members of the royal family, at Westminster Abbey in London.
December 2022
Harry and Meghan speak out in a Netflix docuseries about their life together and their decision to leave their senior royal roles.
Jan. 10, 2023
Harry releases a memoir, titled "Spare," outlining his "truth" about growing up as a member of the British royal family, the family's complicated relationship with the British press and his rift with some family members.
May 6, 2023
Harry returns to the U.K. solo to attend his father King Charles III's coronation, which falls on his son Archie's fourth birthday.
February 2024
Harry travels to the U.K. for a brief meeting with Charles shortly after Buckingham Palace announces that the king was diagnosed with cancer.
May 2, 2025
Harry loses an appeal challenging the British government's decision to reduce his publicly funded security following his and Meghan's decision to step back as senior working royals. Following the court loss, Harry said in an interview with the BBC that he would "love reconciliation" with his family, but said the ongoing security issue is "100%" the last step in repairing their relations.
July 10, 2026
Charles and Queen Camilla host Harry and Meghan and their two children at Highgrove House, their family residence in Gloucestershire, England. The meeting is the first time Charles and Camilla are known to have seen Meghan, Archie and Lilibet since 2022.
Aug. 19, 2026
ABC News confirms that Harry and Meghan plan to move back to the U.K. with their two children. Charles was first made aware of the couple's plans a few days prior to the news breaking publicly and is said to welcome the opportunity to see more of the Sussex family, a source familiar with the matter told ABC News.
