Prince Harry’s UK return has apparently been measured in walks, school mornings and whether his children will tolerate Marmite. Speaking at the WellChild Awards on Monday, the Duke of Sussex described the distinctly British activities he, Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have tried since relocating from California.
Asked which activity topped the list, Harry told Hello! magazine: “Gone for a walk. Lots of walks. Isn’t that the most British thing?”
The former military pilot, 42, added that Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, have developed a taste for Marmite on crumpets. This counted as a “big moment” because the children had previously mocked him for keeping the yeast spread at their Montecito home.
“Now [that] we are in the UK, that is kind of water under the bridge,” he said, adding that they “do, very much, like it.” Few family disputes are resolved so efficiently, although Marmite’s involvement makes the achievement slightly less conventional.
Which British foods have Archie and Lilibet tried?
Marmite may have secured approval, but beans on toast produced a less enthusiastic response. Harry said he introduced the dish to his family “years ago” and joked that it “didn’t go down very well at all.”
He offered no indication that another tasting session was planned. British culinary diplomacy, it seems, has limits.
Harry also spoke about Archie and Lilibet adjusting to school in Britain. On Thursday, amid reports that the children had been removed from their preparatory school because of security concerns, he gave a brief update and confirmed that the “kids are in school.”
By Monday morning, they were experiencing what he called the “Monday blues.” Harry said he understood the feeling because he used to dread Sundays before returning to boarding school.
Their mood that morning had been “tricky,” he said, so he tried to encourage them by explaining the WellChild Awards and the children being honoured there. According to Harry, Archie and Lilibet became “genuinely fascinated and interested,” responding with plenty of questions.
What has Harry done since moving back to Britain?
The WellChild Awards marked Harry’s third official engagement since the family returned to the United Kingdom in August. His earlier appearances included the Invictus Spirit Gala Dinner & Awards and the launch of the INSPIRE education programme.
He attended all three events without Meghan. Her absence from the official engagements has not meant she has remained out of sight.
Meghan, 45, has been spotted in the Cotswolds, where the couple were reportedly looking for a home. On September 4, she was seen getting coffee at Soho Farmhouse, the members-only retreat.
On Monday, the former Suits star was photographed with fellow American expatriate Ellen DeGeneres at the Three Horseshoes near Burford, Oxfordshire. The meeting added another small piece of evidence that the Sussexes are settling into life in the area, or at least locating its better-known hospitality venues.
The family previously lived in Montecito, California, after Harry and Meghan stepped back from their senior royal duties and left Britain in 2020.
Why did Harry and Meghan relocate?
Harry has not publicly explained the full reason for the move. Reports have suggested that he wanted to live closer to his father, King Charles III.
Education and community may also have influenced the decision. Singer Joss Stone said last year that she and Harry had discussed “how wonderful the schools are [in the UK] and how important community is for children.”
The return has not been entirely smooth. Meghan’s personal mobile number was reportedly leaked in a school WhatsApp group, while security concerns disrupted Archie and Lilibet’s schooling. Harry’s later confirmation that both children were back in class provided the clearest update, though not much detail.
For now, the family appears to be settling in through school routines, countryside walks and cautious exposure to traditional food. Marmite has made the cut. Beans on toast may need to accept the verdict.
