Harry’s extraordinary new change of heart – and why Meghan may think it ‘barbaric’, told to RICHARD EDEN by one of the Duke’s closest confidantes

When I disclosed in my Daily Mail social diary, Eden Confidential, last Saturday that the Duke of Sussex wanted his children to be educated in Britain, the story was met with predictable scorn from Harry and Meghan’s supporters.

‘No friend of Prince Harry would ever speak to you’, was one of the less abusive comments. ‘I don’t believe it,’ remarked another social media user. ‘Why would Harry want his kids to move to the UK when he’s so happy in the States?’

The duke’s friend whom I quoted had spoken to him during his visit to this country last week. ‘I can tell you that Harry wants to educate the children here in the UK,’ the pal said.

‘Harry feels his children are missing out on the extensive family network that their niece and nephews are enjoying,’ he added, referring to the Prince and Princess of Wales’s offspring, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and Prince Louis, seven, who currently all attend the same public school, £32,000-per-year Lambrook in Berkshire.

‘Harry wants his children to have the very best education. He has retained his closest friendship group of confidants from his days at school at Ludgrove and Eton. He wants that for his own children.’

I disclosed in my Daily Mail social diary, Eden Confidential, last Saturday that the Duke of Sussex wanted his children to be educated in Britain. (Pictured: Prince Harry with Meghan, Archie and Lilibet)

My contact was not the only old friend with whom the duke was keen to discuss the subject. Indeed, it seems to have been dominating Harry’s thoughts during his visit back home.

Joss Stone, the pop star with whom Harry has been friends since she sang at a fundraising event for his father’s charity, The Prince’s Trust, two decades ago, recently moved back to Britain from Nashville, Tennessee. She has four children with her American husband, Cody DaLuz, and they wanted to educate their eldest, Violet, aged four, in Devon, where the singer grew up.

‘Maybe Harry will move back, too,’ she told Hello! magazine after chatting to him at the WellChild Awards in London. ‘That would be nice. He was saying how wonderful the schools are here and how important community is for children. It was nice to share that with him because it’s exactly why we felt drawn to come back – for the kids to grow up surrounded by family, friends, and a strong sense of belonging and most importantly in a safe environment.’

It does seem a radical change in attitude for Harry who, just last December, was waxing lyrical about life in the US. ‘I enjoy living and bringing my kids up here, it’s a part of my life that I never thought I was going to live and it feels as though it’s the life that my mum wanted for me,’ the California-based duke declared of the late Princess Diana on stage at a conference in New York City.

Harry feels his children are missing out on the extensive family network that his niece and nephews are enjoying; Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and Prince Louis, seven, who currently attend the same school

Harry hopes by the time his children are of an age to attend school in Britain, he and Meghan will be spending much more time here, possibly living in a royal residence

However, I can disclose that Harry apparently has serious reservations about American schools and seems determined that his son, Prince Archie, and daughter, Princess Lilibet, should be educated in Britain.

Archie is only six years old and Lilibet, who was controversially given Queen Elizabeth’s pet name, is four, so they are unlikely to be sent to boarding school across the Atlantic any time soon. Their cousin Prince George, for example, won’t start boarding school (probably Eton) until next year.

Harry’s plan for his children, who have American accents, may lead to a battle with his wife, who is said to consider sending children to boarding school ‘barbaric’. The friend conceded: ‘There is still some negotiation for Harry to have with Meghan. The King, however, is delighted.’

That comment suggests the duke has mentioned the plan to his father, whom he met for tea at Clarence House last week – their first encounter in 19 months.

The next step is to return with Meghan and their children, as Harry told The Guardian newspaper last weekend. ‘This week has definitely brought that closer,’ he said.

Harry hopes by the time his children are of an age to attend school in Britain, he and his wife will be spending much more time here, possibly living in a royal residence if relations with the King continue to improve.

First, though, he must convince Meghan their children’s future is in Britain, the country she left in such a hurry.