Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are back in Britain — six years after leaving royal life behind for California.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at Birmingham International Airport around noon Wednesday with Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. Their private flight from Van Nuys, California, landed shortly before noon, according to The Associated Press.
There was no visible police presence as Prince Harry and his family left Birmingham Airport, according to The Telegraph, with the couple instead relying on their own security team.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s team for comment.
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The return comes just days after Harry and Meghan announced plans for an “extended” stay in Britain.
Archie and Lilibet are enrolled in British schools and are expected to begin classes in September. Harry and Meghan plan to live at a private, non-royal residence outside London, although they have not disclosed the location. They will also keep their California home.
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The Sussexes remain nonworking royals, meaning the move does not signal a formal return to royal duties.
King Charles III was informed of the move and reportedly welcomes the chance to spend more time with his grandchildren. Prince William and Princess Kate have also been informed.
Royal experts told Fox News Digital that Prince William and Princess Kate are “concerned” about the Sussexes’ plans for an extended stay.
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“Prince William was blindsided,” Kinsey Schofield, host of YouTube’s “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered,” told Fox News Digital.
William had noticed Harry’s recent comments about wanting to spend more time in Britain, but was not expecting a full family return, according to Schofield.
“He had found Harry’s recent eagerness to publicly signal that he wanted to spend more time in Britain unusual, but that is very different from anticipating a full return,” the royal expert added. “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.”
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Kensington Palace told Fox News Digital: “We would never comment on private family matters.”
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The surprise move comes after Harry previously said he could not imagine bringing Meghan and their children back to Britain because of security concerns.
“I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point,” Harry told the BBC in May 2025 after losing his appeal over the level of police protection he receives in Britain.
