Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Surprising Return to Britain

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made the unexpected decision to return to Britain, six years after they left royal duties behind for life in California. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with their children Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, arrived in Birmingham on Wednesday. Their private flight originated from Van Nuys, California, and landed just before noon, as reported by The Associated Press.

Upon arrival at Birmingham International Airport, the family was seen exiting without a visible police escort, opting instead for their personal security detail, according to The Telegraph. Fox News Digital has reached out to their representatives for further comments.

Harry and Meghan intend to stay in Britain for an extended period. Their children, Archie and Lilibet, are set to start school in September. While the family is keeping their California residence, they plan to reside in a private property outside London. This move does not mark a return to formal royal duties, as they remain nonworking royals.

King Charles III has been informed of their move and reportedly sees the opportunity to spend more time with his grandchildren positively. Prince William and Princess Kate have also been briefed on the Sussexes’ new plans.

The Sussexes’ decision has reportedly left Prince William surprised. Kinsey Schofield, a royal expert and host of “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered” on YouTube, shared with Fox News Digital that Prince William was not expecting a complete return of Harry’s family, despite noticing Harry’s public remarks about spending more time in Britain.

Previous security concerns in Britain had made Harry hesitant to bring his family back. However, the recent move contradicts his earlier statements. In May 2025, Harry had expressed to the BBC how security challenges in Britain prevented him from envisioning bringing Meghan and their children to the U.K.