Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to bring their children closer to the royal family when Archie and Lilibet begin school in Britain. But the Sussexes are reportedly planning a different approach to family photos.
The couple does not plan to follow a practice often used by Prince William and Kate Middleton. They are not expected to release first-day school photos or formal birthday portraits of their children.
Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, are expected to start school in the UK in September. The family has not shared the name of the school.
Their new British home is also expected to remain private. The Sussexes are reportedly planning to live in a private home while keeping their California property.
The move will bring Archie and Lilibet closer to other members of the royal family. Yet Harry and Meghan appear keen to keep their children’s daily lives away from public attention.
The approach differs from William and Kate’s style. The Prince and Princess of Wales often release photos of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis for birthdays and other key events.
George turned 13 on July 22. His parents shared a new portrait to mark the day. They later released a short video showing George during a family trip.
The video showed him playing cricket, riding in a boat and spending time with his family. The images gave the public a look at George while allowing his parents to control what was released.
William and Kate have used this method for years. They often release family photos themselves instead of allowing broad media access to their children.
Harry and Meghan have taken a different path. Their reported decision to avoid school photos and birthday portraits fits with their long focus on protecting their children’s privacy.
Meghan spoke about the issue before the planned UK school move. In a 2022 interview, she discussed her concerns about Archie attending school in Britain.
She said she feared school drop-offs could attract large numbers of photographers. Meghan argued that she wanted to protect her son from that level of attention.
Royal school events, however, have often involved strict media limits. When George, Charlotte and Louis began at Lambrook School in 2022, only a small approved media group was allowed to attend.
The group included a photographer, a television cameraman and a reporter. Other media were kept away.
British media rules also place limits on photographing children at school without a proper reason. This means royal families can arrange controlled images while still protecting children from wider media attention.
The Sussexes have not completely stopped sharing photos of Archie and Lilibet. Instead, they have often chosen to share images on their own terms.
Meghan offered a recent example in July. She posted an 11-photo summer collection that included both children.
One photo showed Archie inside an airplane cockpit while wearing a captain’s hat. Another showed Harry tossing Lilibet into a swimming pool.
The images gave fans a rare view of the children but did not show their school or home details. This reflects the balance Harry and Meghan appear to want.
The family has also kept other parts of its UK life private. The reported school and new home have not been publicly named.
The family’s recent UK visit also included a trip to Althorp, the Spencer family estate and the burial place of Princess Diana. The family then reportedly met King Charles and Queen Camilla privately at Highgrove House.
The meeting was reported as an important family moment. It was also said to be the first time Charles had seen Archie and Lilibet in more than four years.
As the children begin a new chapter in Britain, Harry and Meghan appear ready to keep a clear boundary between royal family life and public life.
Their choice may differ from William and Kate’s approach, but the goal is similar in one key way. Both couples want to decide when and how their children appear in public.
For Harry and Meghan, that means fewer formal photos and more control over family images. Their return to Britain may bring the children closer to the royal family, but it is unlikely to change the Sussexes’ strong focus on privacy.
