Prince Harry and Meghan reportedly looking at new school for Archie and Lilibet: How much is the tuition?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The couple have been living in Montecito, California, USA since they stepped down as working Royals in 2020.

Since leaving the Firm, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have kept their children out of the limelight. Indeed, they don’t bring their children to public engagements, or for their international travels, however, it has been said that Meghan may want to change her way of parenting.

As the two youngest are getting older, it is now time for Prince Harry and Meghan to look at potential schools and according to rumours, they are looking at expensive private schools, somewhat keeping with royal tradition.

The Sussex children are nearly at school-age

As all children do, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are growing up and nearing school age. Young Lilibet turned 3 on June 4. According to Us Weekly, Prince Harry and Meghan hosted a party for their youngest, the weekend before her birthday.

It is believed that only their closest friends, loved ones and some of Lilibet’s friends were invited to celebrate.

The couple had also celebrated Prince Archie’s birthday a month prior. His birthday was on May 6, and as per People the couple privately celebrated his birthday. Just a few days after his son’s party, Prince Harry flew to the UK for the Thanksgiving Service of the Invictus Games.

As the couple are very private about their children, there aren’t many details about their birthday celebrations. Despite keeping their children out of the limelight, rumours still find their way to the media. It is said that the couple is looking at private schools for their youngsters.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly looking at private schools

According to Mirror, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have begun their hunt for good schools for their two children. It has been suggested that they are looking at sending Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to private schools.

Richard Mineards from the Montecito Journal revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan are considering a local private school as they were allegedly spotted at a school campus recently.

Mineards told Mirror:

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are eyeing entering their two children, Archie and Lilibet, at a local private school, I can exclusively reveal.

The Riven Rock twosome were spotted inspecting an institution's campus last week, bringing them one-step closer to a decision

The journalist added that school fees in the Sussex’s area are highly expensive, with tuition costing up to $60,000 (£40,000) and pupils have a tendency of going on to attend 4-year colleges.

School fees in our area range from $60,000 to $50,000 plus for older grades, with most of the institutions having 100 per cent of students going on to attend four-year colleges.

During Prince Harry and Meghan’s trip to Nigeria for the Invictus Games, the former actress shared a small glimpse of her children’s lives. Indeed she revealed that Lilibet’s current favourite class is singing and dancing, while Archie’s is construction, as per Mirror.

However, it seems that some people are not pleased with Prince Harry and Meghan’s potential choice of private schools for their children.

Prince Harry and Meghan facing backlash

It seems that no matter what decision Prince Harry and Meghan make, someone will have something to say. It has been said that the couple has decided to follow at least one royal tradition, which is to send their children to a private school.

Royal expert and author, Tom Quinn, who often shares his thoughts on the Sussex couple, has explained that Meghan’s goal is for their children to have a ‘very good relationship’ with her mother, Doria, therefore they chose to keep the staff at Montecito limited.

Quinn told Mirror:

One of Meghan‘s difficulties when she was a working royal living in the UK was her lack of experience of dealing with staff so in Montecito she has kept paid staff to an absolute minimum, but if she’s avoiding the Royal tradition of paying people to do the childcare, she’s certainly sticking to the Royal tradition of sending children to elite schools.

The royal author goes on to add that Prince Harry wouldn’t ‘risk’ not giving his children the best education possible and thus choose an ‘elite environment’ which is a ‘the Royal Family tradition’.

Harry wouldn’t countenance risking his children being educated in anything other than in an elite environment. Choosing an elite school is very much in the royal family tradition.

On the other hand, royal commentator Lee Cohen expressed that Prince Harry and Meghan sending their children to an expensive private school doesn’t make sense as they want ‘equality’. Cohen said, as per She Knows:

Their supposed commitment to progressive causes is nothing but a façade. If they're willing to indulge in this epitome of elitism, there is no advocating for equality. Yet they're willing to pay staggering tens of thousands per year for their children's education.

It is important to note, that as of writing this article, nothing has officially been confirmed by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Nonetheless, despite the backlash, it wouldn’t be surprising if the couple decided to send Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to private school, as both parents have benefited from such schooling.

Both Prince Harry and Meghan went to private school

Prince Harry's education

Prince Harry’s educational background is generally known. The dad-of-two first started school at Wetherby School before he and his brother were sent to Ludgrove School, an elite boarding school, from ages 8 to 13.

In his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry speaks fondly of Ludgrove School and calls the headmaster, Gerald Barber and Nichol Marston ‘legends’. Indeed, the school’s goal for the young princes was to give them a ‘normal experience’.

The school went to great lengths to protect them, as per Mirror, TV was banned unless it was for educational viewing, to avoid gossip spreading about then-Prince Charles and Diana’s divorce. The school tuition is £33,300 a year and is located about a 30-minute drive away from Windsor Castle.

Following Ludgrove School, Prince Harry went on to Eton College, which Prince William also attended. After Eton, the Duke of Sussex chose not to go to university, and instead, started ten months of officer commissioning training at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

When it comes to Meghan Markle’s schooling, it started off differently until 1990, when her father, Thomas Markle won the lottery. As reported by Mirror, Markle used his winnings to send his daughter to private school.

Meghan Markle's education

Meghan attended Heart High School in 1992, an all-girls Catholic school in California. During her schooling, Meghan was in various school productions. Her former drama teacher, Gigi Perreau explained that the former Suits actress ‘sparkled’.

After Heart High School, Meghan went on to study a double major in Theatre and International Relations at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and graduated in 2003. According to Mirror, Meghan worked at the US Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina for her internship, where she learned Spanish.

Read more:

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet: Why has their surname changed to Sussex?

Prince William and Kate looking at new schools for Prince George: How much it will cost?

Prince Harry & Meghan: Could their children, Archie and Lilibet become working royals in the future?

Sources used:

Mirror: ‘The £40k a year Montecito school where Harry and Meghan could send Archie and Lilibet’

Mirror: ‘Harry and Meghan's starkly different educations as they eye up £40k school for Lilibet’

Mirror: ‘Meghan Markle 'sticking to Royal Family tradition in one aspect of raising Archie and Lilibet'

People: ‘How Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Are Celebrating Son Prince Archie's 5th Birthday’

Us Weekly: ‘Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Reportedly Celebrate Daughter Lilibet’s 3rd Birthday With Sweet Party’

People: ‘Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Celebrate Princess Lilibet's 3rd Birthday with Party at Montecito Home’

She Knows: ‘Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Are Considering This Schooling Option for Archie & Lilibet - & Of Course, Parent-Shamers Have a Lot to Say’