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Sarah Ferguson reportedly knew Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were heading back to the UK before the couple made their move. On August 26, the two arrived in the UK after flying privately from California with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. 

They are expected to live in a private, non-royal home. The Cotswolds is tipped as the likely spot. So, while King Charles learned about it only days before, Andrew Lownie claimed Ferguson was aware much earlier. Writing in the Daily Mail, he cited “bomb-proof” sources. 

Lownie penned, “Ferguson knew what was going on and she laid her own plans accordingly.” He meant that the former Duchess of York timed her UK return to land while Harry and Markle dominated the headlines here. 

According to People, she was preparing to move into a six-bedroom rental in the Home Counties. This came after she spent seven months abroad. She left the Royal Lodge amid the fallout surrounding her former husband, Prince Andrew. 

Lownie also suggested that Ferguson may have learned about the plans during a visit to Princess Eugenie in Portugal. Eugenie welcomed her third child, a daughter named Adelaide, on August 3. According to Lownie, Markle may have told Ferguson herself about it. Notably, Harry and Markle also own a holiday property there. 

The royal commentator said, “First, both women have existed in a state of open warfare with the Palace machine for years.” Second, the former actress probably looks up to Ferguson for following the “half-in, half-out” system while trading on her title and royal connections. Lownie added that Ferguson had long used her royal title to boost commercial work.

Now that Harry and Markle have returned to the UK, their children are set to attend school in Britain for the first time this September. The kids previously went to school near their Montecito home. The Times reported that Harry and Markle waited until mid-August to learn if the children “had got in.” A source said, “There was no special treatment.” 

The couple still hasn’t revealed the school or their new UK home. However, their Cotswolds home search came with a big wish list. The Daily Mail reported that Markle wants nine bedrooms and a film studio. Meanwhile, Harry wants “a lot, and I mean a lot, of land” with no public footpaths nearby. 

Harry and Markle first announced their royal exit in January 2020. In a statement, they said they would “step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family” and become financially independent. Queen Elizabeth II signed off on the deal ten days later. The new arrangement took effect that spring.

Then, in February 2021, Buckingham Palace confirmed the couple would not return as working royals after their year-long review. The recent UK return was a family decision, and their children were a big part of it. Markle wanted Archie and Lilibet to experience their American life and Harry’s British roots.

A Montecito source told People that she felt lucky to give them “the opportunity to experience both worlds.” Later, their spokesperson also told The New York Times that, “On the heels of a wonderful trip with family and friends this summer,” Harry and Markle decided to spend more time in Britain. 

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