Harry and Meghan land back in the UK with their kids to begin new chapter

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have officially returned to the United Kingdom with their two children, marking a significant new chapter for the family six years after they stepped away from royal duties and established a life in California.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived in Britain on Wednesday, August 26, with Prince Archie , seven, and Princess Lilibet , five. According to a report from The Telegraph, the family flew privately from California and landed at Birmingham Airport around lunchtime.

Their arrival comes after reports that they planned to spend an “extended” period in Britain.

The move represents a striking reversal from the decision Harry and Meghan made in 2020, when they relinquished their roles as senior working royals and relocated to North America. The episode became widely known as “Megxit,” and the couple subsequently built an independent life in Montecito, California.

This time, however, their return does not mean a return to royal duties. Harry and Meghan are expected to continue their separate commercial and charitable projects rather than resume official responsibilities on behalf of the monarchy.

Reports indicate they will live in a private, non-royal property rather than a royal residence.

The biggest immediate change for the family will be the children's education. Archie and Lilibet have reportedly been enrolled in British schools and are expected to begin classes in September.

It will be a new experience for both children, particularly Lilibet , who was born in California after her parents had already left Britain.

Harry and Meghan's return brings them closer to King Charles

Family appears to be an important factor behind the decision to spend more time in Britain.

Harry's relationship with his father, King Charles III , has shown signs of improvement after years of tension. In July, Harry , Meghan and their children reunited with Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire.

The meeting was particularly significant because Charles had not seen Archie and Lilibet in person since 2022.

The Sussexes' latest move could allow the children to spend considerably more time with their grandfather, while also giving Harry an opportunity to strengthen his relationship with the King.

The family is reportedly considering the Cotswolds as a longer-term base. The area would put them relatively close to Highgrove, where Charles and Camilla spend significant time, while still providing considerable distance from the main royal household in Windsor.

Royal commentator Tom Sykes previously highlighted the personal significance of the area for Harry.

“Obviously, that’s where he grew up, living with his father and brother there, and has happy memories,” Sykes said.

The potential choice of the Cotswolds would also underline the distinction between Harry and Meghan's new life in Britain and their former royal existence. They are not returning to official duties or moving back into a palace.

Instead, they appear to be seeking a private family life while rebuilding connections with relatives.

That distinction is particularly important given that their relationship with Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, remains strained.

William and Catherine are based in Windsor, roughly two hours from the Cotswolds, meaning Harry and Meghan could be geographically closer to the Wales family without necessarily resolving the underlying tensions.

The Sussexes are also expected to retain their home and business interests in the United States. Meghan's lifestyle brand and Harry's charitable commitments can continue despite the family's temporary or extended presence in Britain.

For Harry , the move therefore represents neither a complete return to royal life nor a rejection of the California chapter he and Meghan built after 2020.

Instead, it appears to be an attempt to establish a new balance, one that allows their children to experience more of their father's homeland and royal family while preserving the independence the couple fought to establish.

After years defined by separation and public disagreements, the arrival of the Sussex family in Britain could ultimately prove to be one of the most consequential developments in Harry's relationship with the royal family since Megxit.