Prince Harry’s push to give Archie, Lilibet royal upbringing exposes ‘contradiction’ after palace exit: expert
Prince Harry wants his children to embrace their British roots and royal heritage, but one expert says there's a glaring "contradiction."
"Harry spent years telling us why he needed to escape royal life, said his father and brother were trapped, but now appears determined to make sure his children understand and retain their connection to it," Kinsey Schofield, host of YouTube's "Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered," told Fox News Digital.
"Perhaps with time and distance, he has realized that walking away from royal duties was much easier than walking away from the history, family and identity that came with them," Schofield said. "Ultimately, Harry may finally be recognizing what has always seemed so obvious to the rest of us — being born a prince is an unbelievable privilege."
On Aug. 20, it was announced that Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, had decided to return to the U.K. for an extended stay beginning this fall, but they would not resume their roles as working royals. Their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, recently started school in England.
A source told People magazine that Harry "wants them to understand the world he grew up in and where their family comes from." Fox News Digital reached out to Archewell, which handles the offices of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for comment.
"It is totally understandable that Harry wants Archie and Lilibet to grow up appreciating their British heritage, traditions and knowing their extended family," British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. "But after all he has said and done, it's highly unlikely the family will ever trust Harry or welcome them all back into the family fold."
WATCH: PRINCE HARRY WANTS HIS CHILDREN TO EMBRACE ENGLISH HERITAGE: EXPERT
"It would have been surprising if he felt California was like home or in any way comparable to anything his children could experience in the U.K.," Fordwich argued. "He has expressed wanting his children to understand their paternal history."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as working royals and moved to California more than six years ago. They later signed lucrative contracts with Netflix and Spotify as they sought to become financially independent.
In a series of interviews and Harry's memoir "Spare," the couple said they left Britain to escape the restrictions of royal life and criticized palace officials for being insensitive to Meghan's mental health while alleging that at least one member of the royal family had expressed racist views when she was pregnant with their first child. Meghan, a former actress, is biracial.
Although relations with some members of the royal family have soured since then, Harry told the BBC in 2025 that he wanted to reconcile with his family. In the same interview, however, Harry said he could not envision bringing Meghan and their children back to the U.K. because of concerns over their security. His father, King Charles III, continues to receive treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.
"Harry and Meghan want their children to build close relationships with their cousins, in fact, the whole British royal family," British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital.
"Allegedly, this was one of the deciding factors in their U.K. return. It is understandable at this point why the family will keep their distance from the Sussexes. Harry and Meghan, for their children's sake, should work towards peace with the family. Not just a sweeping statement about reconciliation and doing the exact opposite. But Harry will absolutely want his children to understand their heritage and that they are part of the British royal family."
GET ENTERTAINMENT SCOOP DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE
A source told People magazine that the family's decision to leave California for an extended period wasn't easy for Meghan.
"They've been planning this for some time, and they feel it's the right thing for their family, but that doesn't mean leaving was easy," the insider explained to the outlet.
"Meghan really loves their life in Montecito and their home there. They know it's going to take a little bit of time for everyone to settle in and adjust. There's excitement about what's ahead too, especially for the kids. They're really happy for them, and for everything they'll get to experience."
Schofield noted that Harry was eager for his children to have a closer relationship with their grandfather despite tensions within the royal family.
"I think Harry has reached a point where he recognizes that Britain is a huge part of his children's identity," Schofield said. "Archie and Lili are grandchildren of the king. Their grandfather is on the currency. Their uncle will be king. Their cousins are the future of the monarchy. They would be given privileges and opportunities in the U.K. that they simply wouldn't attract in the States."
"I think Harry wants to reopen the royal door, but perhaps on his own terms," Schofield continued. "The problem is that the monarchy has never operated that way. Harry may want his children to enjoy the history, relationships and privileges that come with being part of the royal family while maintaining the independence he chose in 2020. That tension has been at the heart of this story from the very beginning."
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
"That is the uncomfortable reality: You can bring your children to the U.K. and surround them with British traditions, but their most meaningful connection to Britain is their family. If Harry genuinely wants Archie and Lilibet to understand their royal heritage, eventually he has to confront the fact that his children barely know the relatives who embody it."
Archie was a baby when his parents left the U.K. in 2020. Lilibet was born in California in 2021. Before this year's relocation, their last visit to the U.K. was in July for a private family trip that included a reunion with the king at Highgrove House. Before that, the children had not visited the U.K. since June 2022 for Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee.
A source told People magazine that Harry and his father spoke by phone during the Duke of Sussex's first week back in the U.K. The two have yet to meet in person again since the Sussexes returned on Aug. 26. Multiple royal experts told Fox News Digital that Harry and his older brother, Prince William, haven't spoken since 2022.
"Harry cannot expect the children to repair what the adults have broken," Schofield said. "Any meaningful relationships between the cousins would require trust between their parents first."
"Prince William is going to prioritize his three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and their privacy. If Harry wants those relationships for his children, rebuilding trust with William becomes increasingly important. And I do think that burden is on Harry. Any pressure on Prince William to reconcile is wildly unfair."
Still, Chard noted that children could help soften strained relationships between family members and "serve as a bridge."
PUT YOUR ENTERTAINMENT KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST AND SEE HOW YOU SCORE
Harry may want Archie and Lilibet to grow up connected to their British roots, but one royal expert said that goal could prove difficult unless he first makes peace with his family.
"Archie is seven now," Schofield said. "He is old enough to ask questions and understand that his family circumstances are unusual. At some point, Britain stops being a story Harry tells his children and becomes something they will want to experience and understand for themselves. Harry then has to decide whether he wants them connected simply to Britain or genuinely connected to the royal family."