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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle touched down at Birmingham International Airport near midday Wednesday, concluding a private flight from California with their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. The arrival represents a significant moment for the couple, who departed Britain six years ago to establish their lives on the West Coast of the United States. Their aircraft landed shortly before noon, according to reporting from The Associated Press.
Security arrangements for the family’s airport departure differed markedly from typical royal protocol, with no visible police presence documented as they exited the terminal, according to The Telegraph. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex relied instead on their private security detail to manage the family’s movements. A spokesperson for the couple did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the return.
The family’s relocation follows a public announcement days earlier of plans for an extended British residence. Both Archie and Lilibet are registered to begin classes at British schools this September, while their parents intend to occupy a private, non-royal property located outside London—details about which remain undisclosed. The couple will maintain ownership of their California residence alongside their new British arrangements.
Palace officials confirmed that King Charles III received advance notice of the move and has expressed enthusiasm about increased contact with his grandchildren. Prince William and Princess Kate were similarly informed of the development. However, multiple royal observers have indicated that the Prince and Princess of Wales harbor reservations regarding the Sussex family’s decision to establish themselves in Britain for an extended period.
Kinsey Schofield, a royal commentator, stated that Prince William experienced surprise upon learning of the full-scale family return, despite having observed Harry’s recent public statements about his desire to spend additional time in the United Kingdom. “William now has to navigate a situation he did not create, did not ask for and, given the state of their relationship, almost certainly would not have chosen,” Schofield told Fox News Digital. Kensington Palace declined to address the matter, stating: “We would never comment on private family matters.”
The move carries particular significance given Harry’s earlier declarations about the impossibility of returning to Britain with his family. During a May 2025 BBC interview following an unsuccessful appeal regarding police protection levels, Harry stated: “I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point.” The couple’s current status remains that of nonworking royals, indicating that the British residence does not constitute a formal resumption of royal responsibilities.
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