Prince Harry finds himself once again back in the UK. The estranged prince attended the WellChild Awards on Monday, but for safety reasons, kept the location a secret until the day of the event. Meanwhile, his wife, Meghan Markle, and children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, stayed in the US and reportedly won’t set foot on UK soil until the Sussexes are given the police protection they desire.

Harry and Meghan’s children don’t yet know about their royal heritage, nor do they know that their parents are locked in a feud with their father’s side of the family. Moreover, the sad truth is that Archie and Lilibet share little-to-no relationship with their royal cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. As things stand today, it looks as if they won’t get to know them—or even see them— for a very long time.

As mentioned, protection and security issues are the main reasons why Harry doesn’t want to bring his wife and children to the UK. When Archie and Lilibet turn 18, they are free to do what they want, but as the feud with the Royal Family has no foreseeable end in sight, it’s difficult to envisage a time where the Sussex children ever get to see their relatives.

Adding to the bleakness of it all, a royal expert has painted an even sadder picture of Archie and Lilibet’s UK future.

Prince Harry and his family’s life in the US is barely comparable to the royal one they might have lived in the UK. For one the weather’s better in California, but the fact that Harry and Meghan’s children don’t have to deal with the paparazzi press on a daily basis is most likely the most obvious advantage of living Stateside.

Prince Archie & Princess Lilibet

Though Harry and Meghan are active in protecting their children from the public eye as they grow up behind the walls of their $14 million mansion – so-labeled “Fort Knox” — the couple’s actions have given the press no choice but to talk about the kids in at least some capacity. After all, Harry and Meghan have continued to live a very public life in the US, and even featured their children in the Netflix series they released nearly two years ago. Archie and Lilibet are, to some extent, the talk of the town.

Following their move across the Atlantic, Harry and Meghan are said to have decided to endeavor to give their children as normal a childhood as possible. According to a friend of the Sussexes, who chose to remain anonymous, there is one heartbreaking reason behind their decision not to expose their children to unnecessary publicity.

“I think every parent wants to share their kid with the world, but they just can’t,” a friend, referring to Harry’s struggle to get enhanced security in the UK, the friend told US Magazine.

“William’s kids, for example, have way more safety, even though they’re recognizable. And the same doesn’t apply to Meghan and Harry’s children. They know the world wants to see [them but] I would expect them to live smaller lives until that gets sorted, if it ever does.”

Moreover, a source told People Magazine: “Harry has been cautious about showcasing his children publicly, not out of a wish to obscure them but to shield their privacy and ensure their safety from potential risks.

“He wants them to enjoy as normal a life as possible, free from fears of kidnapping or harm,” the friend added. “As a father and husband, Harry is resolute in his commitment to preventing history from repeating itself.”

Prince Archie & Princess Lilibet branded the “cool cousins abroad”

While Harry and Meghan can and will decide what their children’s lives are like until they are 18, there is little they can do after that. That said, a source told the Express that the Sussexes have a plan set in place for their children.

According to an “extremely well-placed” Express source, the Sussexes will give their children free rein as soon as they turn 18. At that point, Archie and Lilibet will effectively be open to choose whatever future path suits them.

“There’s a conscious effort to keep the children out of the public eye as much as possible until they reach the age of 18, so they can form their own opinions and personalities,” the source said.

“Once they reach the age of maturity, it’s going to be very much about what they want to do, and what they choose to support,” they added. “I suppose it will be like the cool cousins abroad who can live their lives the way they wish while the Wales children will be more about duty and formality.”

A Us Weekly source offered some insight into Archie and Lilibet’s lives, saying they are “well-mannered.” Moreover, the source said Archie is “sweet and curious and playful,” while Lilibet is “vibrant and happy.”

As touched upon earlier in this article, it’s no secret that Harry and Meghan have made the call not to take their children on trips to the UK. Unfortunately, this means they’re unable to see any of their family in the British monarchy.

For Archie and Lilibet, not visiting the UK means they haven’t built relationships with their grandfather, King Charles. Perhaps more concerning, they’ve also thus far missed out on forming bonds with their royal cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

Several royal experts have criticized Harry and Meghan for not allowing their children the opportunity to forge bonds with their UK-based family.

“They will start to ask questions”

Just some months ago, Meghan Markle’s estranged father, Thomas Markle, also lashed out at his daughter and son-in-law, saying they are ‘denying’ their children the right to know their royal relatives.

“They are getting to the age where they will start to ask questions, as all kids do,” Markle told New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, as per The Sun.

“I find myself wondering how Archie and Lilbet will feel in a few years’ time when they realise all the things they have missed out on,” he added.

Archie and Lilibet will more than likely live in luxury as they grow up, and eventually they’ll become fully aware of the sad feud between their parents and the Royal Family. A source close to the Sussexes told Us Weekly that Harry and Meghan will have “those conversations in due time” regarding their kids’ royal heritage, but for now, traveling to the UK to visit their royal relatives is not an option.