Prince Harry addresses kids' school switch amid security concerns

Prince Harry says his children are settled back into school after a turbulent first few weeks since the family's return to the UK. 

Speaking at the Invictus Spirit Gala Dinner & Awards in London on Thursday, the Duke of Sussex confirmed that Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, are now attending school, despite an earlier disruption tied to security concerns.

"We're getting stuck into the work. Kids are in school. We're happy," Prince Harry told Hello! magazine, describing the past two weeks since the family's return as "eventful." 

He also expressed enthusiasm about being back in the UK and looking ahead to next year's Invictus Games in Birmingham.

“And as I said, it’s great to be back on British soil, and looking forward to Birmingham next year for the Invictus Games that’s coming up,” added Prince Harry, who attended the gala without his wife, Meghan Markle.

As previously reported, the couple pulled their children from their original school just two days into the term after concerns arose over the practicality of managing security during the daily commute. 

A representative for the family said the decision followed discussions with their security team about the challenges of their current arrangement.

“The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family’s security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements,” a rep for the couple told the outlet.

However, the royal insider noted that the family-of-four remained grateful for the care shown by the school's staff.

“It’s a real shame, because they absolutely adored the school, the kids and their parents,” the source said.

Sources also say security checks had been completed at the school ahead of the term, but the actual school run hadn't been tested in advance, ultimately proving too difficult to manage safely.

After enrolling their children in a new school, the family faced another setback when Markle's personal phone number was reportedly leaked after she joined a parents' WhatsApp group. 

Following an exchange between Markle and other parents, a screenshot containing her number was circulated within the group.

The security concerns come as Markle was reportedly granted her first government-backed security review. 

Per Telegraph, the couple is expected to receive an official risk assessment soon and has been asked to share detailed information about their daily routines with the Royal and VIP Executive Committee.