Now that Archie and Lilibet are settling into life in Britain, one royal expert says Prince William is facing an uncomfortable truth: he barely knows his own niece and nephew.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry relocated back to the UK with their two children last week, marking a significant shift for the Sussex family. As part of the move, Archie and Lilibet have already been enrolled at a private school in the UK and are expected to begin classes shortly.
But their arrival raises an awkward question about family ties that years of distance have left strained. Royal historian Marlene Koenig addressed this directly in comments to the Daily Express, pointing out that William's relationship with his brother's children is, at this point, essentially nonexistent.
"It is difficult to know how William would feel about [Prince Archie and [Princess] Lilibet, now in the UK, because he does not know them," Koenig said.
That distance is a byproduct of the rift between William and Harry, which has kept the brothers apart, and by extension kept William's own children from growing close to their cousins.
Meanwhile, details have emerged about the school Archie and Lilibet will attend. According to Page Six, the prep school comes with tuition exceeding $35,000 a year and offers no shortage of high-end facilities. Reports describe an indoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, sprawling grass playing fields and several AstroTurf pitches for sports.
The campus reportedly also includes art studios, multiple science labs, a large theatre, and a dedicated music and performing arts centre. Students at the school have access to a gourmet dining hall serving breakfast, lunch and supper, with a varied and elaborate menu on offer.
For now, the bigger story may not be the school's amenities but the family dynamics surrounding it. With Archie and Lilibet now living just a short distance from their royal relatives, questions about whether this proximity could eventually help mend ties between William and Harry's families remain very much unanswered.
Key Takeaways:
- Meghan Markle and Prince Harry moved back to the UK with Archie and Lilibet last week.
- Royal expert Marlene Koenig says Prince William doesn't really know his niece and nephew, calling their relationship an uncertain "sad reality."
- Archie and Lilibet have enrolled in a UK private school with tuition over $35,000 a year.
- The school reportedly offers amenities including a swimming pool, science labs, a theatre, and a performing arts centre, according to Page Six.
