Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Arrive in UK as Family Moves Back

The relocation follows months of speculation about the Sussexes' future and comes with King Charles's blessing, according to sources close to the family.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle touched down on British soil this week, flying privately from California to Birmingham with son Prince Archie, 7, and daughter Princess Lilibet, 5. The trip marks the official start of their return to the UK, years after their 2020 exit from royal life.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive to meet volunteer first responders from Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club, during a visit to Bondi Beach, on day four of the royal trip to Australia on April 17, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. | Source: Getty Images

It also comes after the Sussexes made headlines last week when news broke that they were relocating to Harry's home country for what's understood to be an extended stay.

Archie and Lilibet have reportedly been enrolled in new schools in Britain, with classes set to begin next month. Neither the location of the couple's private, non-royal residence nor the children's school has been disclosed, with details tightly guarded.

King Charles is said to have been informed of the couple's plans on Sunday, August 16. The monarch reportedly welcomed the chance to see more of his son's family in a private and personal capacity.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex talks with King Charles at the Westminster Abbey Commonwealth Day service on March 11, 2019 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

Harry and Meghan will keep their home in Montecito, California, along with their vacation property in Portugal, but their UK residence will now serve as their primary base. Whether the move is permanent has yet to be decided.

The relocation doesn't signal a return to royal duties for the couple, who stepped down as working members of the royal family back in 2020 before settling in California.

The King reportedly made clear that Harry and Meghan's status as private individuals and non-working royals won't change, staying consistent with the arrangement previously reached with the late Queen Elizabeth.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are seen ahead of the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

With a foothold in Britain again, Harry will be able to spend more time supporting UK-based charities such as Scotty's Little Soldiers and WellChild, along with the Invictus community — particularly with the 2027 Invictus Games set to take place in Birmingham.

Meghan, meanwhile, will continue running her lifestyle brand, As Ever, while pursuing other future ventures. Multiple outlets have reported that the couple didn't discuss their plans with Charles during their long-awaited reunion at Highgrove last month.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (Anvam) in Southbank on April 14, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. | Source: Getty Images

Still, Harry may have dropped hints about a possible return more than a year earlier, during a conversation with singer Joss Stone at the WellChild Awards in September 2025.

Stone, who had recently relocated her own family back to Britain after years in Nashville, Tennessee, told Hello! that she and Harry discussed her decision — and that he seemed particularly curious about its effect on her kids.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, attends the One805LIVE! 2025 concert benefiting first responders on September 20 in Carpinteria, California. | Source: Getty Images

"He was saying how wonderful the schools are here and how important community is for children," she recalled.

"It was nice to share that with him because it's exactly why we felt drawn to come back — for the kids to grow up surrounded by family, friends and a strong sense of belonging and, most importantly, in a safe environment."

Harry and Meghan's departure from royal life was divisive from the very beginning. Although Harry has long hoped for his children to experience life in his home country, ongoing security concerns stood in the way of that dream for years.

It's an issue he fought to resolve with the British government, without success. "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point," he told the BBC in May 2025, after losing his appeal.

Now, though, it appears he and Meghan have found a way forward — gradually. "Step by step, they want to be in the U.K.," a source close to Harry said. "They want to have the time and give the kids the opportunity to be here."