play Live Sign upShow navigation menuplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upNews|MediaPrince Harry and Meghan Markle return to UK after royal riftThe couple quit royal duties six years ago to head to California. It’s unclear how they will be received on return.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoPrince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have registered their two children, Archie and Lilibet, in a private school in England for the upcoming year [File: Hollie Adams/Reuters]By Al Jazeera Staff and News AgenciesPublished On 26 Aug 202626 Aug 2026Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and their two children have landed in the United Kingdom, according to British media.
The couple – who quit their royal duties six years ago and moved to California – arrived at Birmingham Airport on Wednesday as private citizens. Their return to Britain follows the surprise news last week that they were relocating.
UK media report that the family plan to stay in the country for “an extended period,” living in a home in the Cotswolds region of central England. The two children – Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five – have been enrolled at a private school.
However, they also intend to keep their home in California.
Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45 – who have retained their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – moved to the US following a bitter feud with other members of the royal family.
The spat worsened after Harry published his confessional memoir Spare and the couple gave an interview to US talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey, in which Meghan spoke of mental health issues she experienced after joining the royal family and accused them of racism.
The couple stepped down as working royals in 2020, and resided in the US to pursue lucrative contracts with Netflix and Spotify, which have seen mixed commercial success.
Harry appeared to mend relations with his cancer-battling father, King Charles III, in recent visits to the UK. By settling in the Cotswolds, he will be living close to the king’s Highgrove House estate.
The king was reportedly not informed of the couple’s plans to return to Britain, learning about the relocation timeline along with the general public.
Many questions remain unanswered about their return, including whether they will receive publicly-funded security.
Following his step back as a working royal, Prince Harry lost a legal challenge over the UK government’s decision to downgrade his security. He has since stated that he feels unsafe bringing his family to the country without taxpayer-funded police protection.
