Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing for a move back to the UK, and that brings plenty of change. One of those is the charities that the younger brother of Prince William will oversee. He’s stepping back from an African wildlife charity, but this doesn’t denote his lack of interest.
A spokesman for the royals confirmed with the BBC that Prince Harry will step down from the African Parks board of directors. He gained that position in 2023 after serving as president of the charity for six years. While he is stepping down, it has nothing to do with the move or his lack of interest in the mission.
Prince Harry Is Distancing Himself from Controversy
GettyAfrican Parks was the center of a human rights abuse controversy in 2025. The organization admitted that its rangers in Congo-Brazzaville were guilty of human rights abuses against the Indigenous Baka peoples. The abuses led to intense international scrutiny over the “fortress conservation” model that the charity was employing. This wasn’t the first time that concerns came up, and it led to high-profile figures facing pressure from the world.
Prince Harry has decided to step away in the light of his move back to the UK. While he is proud of the work that he has done over the last 10 years, he believes that it’s time for the board of directors to strengthen without him
This doesn’t mean he’s stepping away from all conservation efforts or raising awareness of ongoing issues surrounding wildlife and the need for biodiversity protection. The organization thanked Prince Harry for his work in recent years. Part of his efforts helped to implement the first phase of the 500 Elephants project, which has been described as “one of the largest and most significant elephant translocations in conservation history.”
How Long Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Remain in the UK?
GettyThe big question for many is whether Prince Harry’s return to the UK is permanent. ABC reports that Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, haven’t decided on the longevity of their return. However, their children, Archie and Lilibet, have been enrolled in a school in England to start in September, and sources say that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex currently plan to remain for an “extended period of time.”
As of now, the two will remain private individuals. Markle did reportedly eye a return to acting, but her potential part on “The Gentlemen” Season 3 was pulled due to backlash from viewers. There are some suggestions that they’re not giving up on the California dream while Markle still tries to get her lifestyle brand off the ground. The best place for that is the Sunshine State.
It’s not clear what Prince Harry will do when he returns, or what security will look like. When the two moved to the United States, their security was no longer funded by the Royal Family due to them no longer being active Royals. Many wonder if that could change for the safety of their children, especially with Prince Harry recently losing a court case against the UK press for security concerns. Despite stepping down from African Parks, Prince Harry is still expected to continue his philanthropic endeavours, following in the footsteps of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
