Londoners react to Harry and Meghan's return to the U.K.

London (AP) -- Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, have announced plans to return to the United Kingdom for an extended stay starting this fall, but they will not resume their roles as working members of the royal family, according to The Associated Press. The couple's children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, have already enrolled in British schools and will begin classes in September, a source close to the Sussexes revealed.

The family intends to reside at a private, non-royal residence outside of London, while retaining their homes in Montecito, California, and Portugal. The Daily Telegraph initially reported the news. When questioned about the rumors at a U.S. veterans event in Washington, Harry remained silent. Harry and Meghan relinquished their royal duties and relocated to California over six years ago to pursue lucrative contracts with Netflix and Spotify.

Although relations with the rest of the royal family have deteriorated, Harry has shown interest in reconciliation to spend more time with King Charles III, who is battling an undisclosed form of cancer. Charles was briefed on the couple's plans on Sunday. Harry and Meghan visited the UK last month, and Buckingham Palace declined to comment on speculation regarding non-working members of the royal family.

A Harry and Meghan representative declined to comment as well. According to a source familiar with the Sussexes, Meghan will continue managing her As Ever company from the UK, while Harry can focus on working with his UK-based charities. The couple has had a tumultuous relationship with the royal family since moving to Montecito, California, where they criticized palace officials for being insensitive to Meghan's mental health and alleged racist views from at least one royal family member when Meghan was pregnant.

Tensions were further exacerbated by Harry's legal battles with British tabloids, which he claims illegally accessed his phone records and invaded his privacy during his youth. Harry recently lost a lawsuit against the Daily Mail publisher but won damages against the Daily Mirror and the Sun publishers. The ongoing trial has left Harry facing potential legal fees of millions of pounds.

Legal disputes with the British government over armed police protection for the prince and his family have also arisen, with Harry arguing that they are at risk simply due to their royal status. Harry expressed his desire for reconciliation with his family, stating that it may be difficult to continue fighting, while acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding his father's health.

Harry recently returned to the UK for charity engagements, and Meghan and the children joined him for part of the visit, including a meeting with King Charles at his Highgrove estate. This was the first time Archie and Lilibet met their grandfather since Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee in 2022. While Harry has since met his father, there are no indications of improved relations with his brother, Prince William, the heir to the throne.

Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt predicted that the announcement would infuriate William, who might be "apoplectic."