The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are being pulled from their new British school only two days into the term over security concerns.

The young royals, aged seven and five, will have to start another school after joining their classmates last week after moving back to Britain with parents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Hello magazine revealed on Tuesday (AEST) that the duke and duchess had reluctantly made the decision due to the advice of their security team.

“Sources close to the couple have made clear there was no issue with the school itself, but rather with the practicalities of getting them there and back,” the magazine reports.

“Heavy traffic in the area and the distance between the school and where they are living are thought to have been contributing factors, putting their small, private security team under strain.

“One incident made it difficult for their vehicles to stay in convoy, which raised further concerns.”

Hello quoted a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

“The decision for the children to move schools was taken following a discussion with the family’s security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements,” the statement said.

“The parents remain extremely grateful to all the teachers and staff for the love, care and effort they have shown their family.

“This decision should in no way be interpreted as a reflection on the school or the exceptional care the children have received there.”

Harry and the Sussex kids in stills from Meghan’s Instagram footage.

Hello reported that bodyguards for the Sussexes did checks on the first school over the British summer holidays, but couldn’t properly recce the school run until the first day of term.

“It’s a real shame, because they absolutely adored the school, the kids and their parents. It was perfect for them in every way and the children really enjoyed their time there,” a friend of the couple told Hello.

“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.”

Archie and Lilibet reportedly visited another school with Prince Harry for a “taster” on Monday (local time).

Also on Monday (AEST), Meghan gave the first glimpse of family life back in Britain in a video posted to Instagram, showing the children riding a bicycle, splashing in muddy puddles and fishing with Harry.

The prince continues to fight for the same level of taxpayer-funded security his family had before “Megxit” in 2020, when they quit as working members of the royal family.

The couple’s return to Britain, with their children, has reignited the debate that Harry has long styled as a “deal-breaker”.

“I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point,” he told the BBC after losing a court battle in 2025.

Last week, RAVEC – the British government’s Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures – had been due to meet to consider a review of the Sussexes’ security because of their return to Britain.

It was delayed, without any public explanation.

A letter from Harry’s father, the King, outlining the Sussexes’ roles made it clear that there was no change from Buckingham Palace’s end. It said any security concerns should be taken to “the relevant police authorities”.

Last week’s palace letter, which was authorised by the King, spelled out the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s continued status as non-working royals.

King’s lifeline to Harry

Meanwhile, the King has given his blessing for Uganda to take part in the Invictus Games in a lifeline to his younger son.

Uganda dropped a bombshell announcement last week that it was quitting Harry’s signature charity event so as not to appear opposed to the King.

But on Tuesday (AEST), a Uganda spokesman said the King had “no problem” with its team taking part and encouraged them to proceed with preparations.

It followed a phone call between Uganda’s General Kainerugaba and the King’s principal private secretary Sir Clive Alderton.

Uganda’s acting director of Defence Public Information Chris Magezi posted on X that the monarch was “moved” by Uganda’s “sensitive consideration of the King’s opinion”.

“Sir Alderton said King Charles III has no problem with Uganda’s participation in the Invictus Games, and encouraged the CDF to proceed with preparations for UPDF’s participation in the games,” Magezi wrote.

“General Kainerugaba [Chief of Defence Forces] appreciated the King’s message and clarity provided by Buckingham Palace on the subject, promising that the UPDF would resume preparations to participate in the upcoming games.”

After Uganda’s original decision to pull out, a furious Prince Harry lashed out, reportedly blaming the unprecedented letter from his father for the big hit to his signature charity.

Uganda was the most recent country to join the Invictus Games, the international multisport event for wounded veterans founded by the Duke of Sussex in 2014. It was only the second African nation to join.

Invictus is one of the few major organisations that Harry continued to work with even after stepping back as a working royal six years ago.

-with AAP