The family landed at Birmingham Airport after flying from the United States, marking an unexpected return to the UK six years after stepping down as senior working royals in 2020. According to the BBC, sources close to the family indicate the decision to move back was made relatively recently following a significant visit to Europe in July.
A Swift Return Through Birmingham Airport
European Roots and New School Timelines
The decision to relocate follows a summer trip to Europe that included a stay in Portugal, where the couple owns a property, and a visit with King Charles III at Highgrove, according to the BBC. During that trip, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet spent time with members of the Spencer family, visiting Althorp House, the childhood home and resting place of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
According to sources cited by the BBC, the primary motivation for the move is the couple’s desire to spend more time in Europe closer to the prince’s family, and to enroll their children in schools in England. Children’s schooling in England typically begins the second week of September, prompting a swift relocation timeline for the Sussex family to settle in within days of their arrival.
Legal Battles and Shifting Commercial Realities
The relocation also follows ongoing legal battles and financial pressures in the United States. The move comes as Prince Harry faces a substantial payment of nearly millions of euros to Associated Newspapers after losing a high-profile privacy lawsuit alongside other public figures including Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley. Commercial ventures have also shifted; while the couple maintained a major multi-year pact with Netflix, their high-profile Spotify deal ended in 2023 following a single season of Meghan Markle’s podcast, Archetypes.
Countryside Plans and Strained Royal Relations
While the family maintains their mansion in Montecito, California, and a home in Melides, Portugal, they will not live in London or occupy a royal residence, according to BBC reports. Rumors suggest they may establish a permanent countryside residence in the Cotswolds or Northamptonshire near Althorp.
The relocation has caught the wider royal family by surprise. According to the BBC, King Charles III was informed of the return ahead of time and appreciates the opportunity to spend private time with his grandchildren, though he did not participate in the decision-making process.
Tensions remain high regarding other members of the royal family. The BBC reports that the relationship between Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William, remains severely strained following the publication of Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, and their interview with Oprah Winfrey. The Prince and Princess of Wales have made no official public comment regarding the return.
Despite their physical return to British soil, Buckingham Palace maintains that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not resume official working royal duties. Both outlets confirm that they remain private citizens without institutional roles, and the British monarchy has no intention of establishing a half-in, half-out working arrangement.
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