Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their two children have arrived in the United Kingdom, according to reports from British media. The couple, who stepped back from royal duties six years ago to move to California, landed at Birmingham Airport on Wednesday as private citizens. Their return follows the announcement last week of their relocation plans.
UK media indicate that the family intends to stay in the country for an extended period, residing in a home in the Cotswolds region of central England. Their children, Archie, age seven, and Lilibet, age five, have been enrolled in a private school. Despite their move, they plan to maintain their residence in California.
Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, who retain their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, relocated to the US after a public dispute with other members of the royal family. This conflict intensified following the release of Harry's memoir, Spare, and an interview with Oprah Winfrey, during which Meghan discussed mental health challenges and alleged racism within the royal family.
The couple stepped down as working royals in 2020 and have pursued contracts with Netflix and Spotify since their move, which have had varying degrees of success. Recently, Harry has reportedly made efforts to improve his relationship with his father, King Charles III, during visits to the UK. By settling in the Cotswolds, Harry will be living near the king's Highgrove House estate.
It has been reported that King Charles III was not informed of the couple's return plans and learned about their relocation timeline alongside the public. Questions remain regarding their return, particularly concerning whether they will receive publicly-funded security. Following his decision to step back as a working royal, Prince Harry lost a legal challenge against the UK government's decision to reduce his security, and he has expressed concerns about the safety of his family without taxpayer-funded police protection.