Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet face ‘culture’ shock as they move to UK school: ‘They’ll have to catch up’

News of the Sussex’s return to the UK came as a shock to fans across the globe on Wednesday when it was announced by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, will have to be prepared for some cultural changes when they start their new life in the UK.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s plan to return to live in Britain was announced on Wednesday, and their children’s schools have already been chosen ahead of their entries into year three and year one.

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But according to Consultancy Director at The Good Schools Guide, Grace Moody-Stuart, the sibling duo will have a lot to adjust to when they start preparatory school.

The menu will be worlds apart from what they’re used to in Montecito, for example. “English schools are quite wholesome; it’s lots of fish and chips. It’s not all about granola and blackberries,” Grace explains, referencing the importance Californians place on healthy eating.

“I imagine they’ll choose somewhere which won’t be too much of a culture shock where perhaps some of their friends have gone.”

Archie and Lilibet should be prepared for the ‘rigorous’ UK schooling system

Grace noted the intensity of the UK preparatory school system; while not technically 24/7, its packed timetable extends beyond simple academics.

The expert explains: “The rigorousness of the teaching and the homework is different. It’s much more full-on even in a school that isn’t highly academic and highly pressurised; it is more rigorous than it is in the States.”

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“As a nation, we should be proud of our private prep schools, which are gems that we’ve overlooked in recent years. They are an amazing resource in that they offer a very holistic education.

“Academically, American schools are a bit behind. Our system is much more structured from a very early age. When people move from the US, they tend to have to catch up a bit with the English curriculum, and Harry and Meghan will need to be prepared for that.”

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Prep schools prepare students for a successful future, offering pupils critical thinking and organisational skills that will help foster independence.

“These schools prepare you for every kind of environment; you need independence, you need to be able to think for yourself, to organise yourself, and you need to be able to show that you can get stuck in. That’s a phrase that they love in these prep schools: getting stuck in, throwing yourself at every opportunity and taking advantage of what’s on offer. That’s one of the distinctions between the UK and the US,” Grace explains.

Harry began his own education at Jane Mynors’ nursery in London before the pre-preparatory Wetherby School, followed by the Ludgrove School in Berkshire and then Eton College, so it’s unsurprising he would want his children to follow a similar path.

It’s clear that Harry and Meghan will be spoilt for choice in terms of the environment they want their children to experience.

Their school days will finish at 5:30 or 6:00 pm

UK prep schools also pride themselves on offering a large range of activities beyond the classroom. Grace explains that outdoor play, music, sports, and the arts are valued just as highly as academic subjects.

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Looking ahead to Archie and Lilibet’s future schooling, Grace highlights just how demanding the prep school environment can be. While many schools offer several boarding options, from flexi and weekly schemes to full-time boarding, the daily schedule remains intense for day pupils and boarders alike.

“Archie and Lilibet will have full days… so it’s action-packed,” Grace notes. The morning begins early with academic lessons while afternoons are typically reserved for creative arts and group sports.

The teaching model evolves as children grow; rather than relying on a single teacher for every year group, pupils quickly transition to expert-led education across subjects like languages, music, and fine art, ensuring more academic depth.

The huge range of topics and activities offered means the day naturally ends much later than in state or standard primary settings. “Instead of picking up a child at 3:00 pm… you’d be picking them up at 5:00 pm depending on their age or even 6:00 pm,” Grace reveals.