Prince Harry and Meghan arrived in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, marking a fresh start after six years in the United States.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan arrived in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, according to U.K. media reports. The move comes less than a week after the couple surprised fans and critics alike with plans to return to Britain for what was described as an extended period of time, according to reporting by the BBC and Sky News.
Arrival at Birmingham International Airport and School Plans for Children
Flight tracking websites showed a private charter flight from Van Nuys, California, touched down at Birmingham International Airport at 11:56 a.m. on Wednesday, with the Daily Telegraph reporting their plane landed around noon. The couple’s children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, have already enrolled at British schools and will start classes in September, according to the BBC and AP News.
Precise details about where the family will be based or the specific schools the children will attend are being kept private. Yahoo Entertainment reported that the family plans to live at a private, nonroyal residence outside of London, though they have not disclosed the exact location. Yahoo Entertainment also noted that they will not be living in a royal residence or carrying out official duties.
Background on the 2020 Departure and Subsequent Royal Relations
The couple left for the United States in 2020, stepping down from official royal duties to earn their living through lucrative contracts with Netflix and Spotify. Yahoo Entertainment noted that they left to abandon what they termed toxic
press scrutiny in Britain. Relations with the rest of the royal family quickly soured as the couple stated palace staff had been insensitive to Meghan’s mental health, while also leveling charges of racism and media manipulation at members of the royal family. Harry also accused the tabloid press of ruining his life and the government of failing to provide enough security for him to return home.
King Charles only found out about their return days before the decision became public, and the couple will remain non-working royals, as was agreed with the late Queen Elizabeth, according to Yahoo Entertainment. Harry recently expressed an interest in reconciliation so he could spend more time with his father, King Charles III, who is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer. Yahoo Entertainment reported that Harry and his father’s relationship has improved in recent months, with the Duke’s family visiting Britain last month to allow Charles to see his grandchildren for the first time since 2022.
It’s really worth remembering this might not be some terribly cynical move or some desperate move, it might be a very human move — ‘I want to be near my dad’.
Former senior royal aide
Ongoing Family Tensions and Unresolved Legal Hurdles
Despite improving ties with the monarch, relations with Prince William, the heir to the throne, remain tense. Yahoo Entertainment reported that Harry is still barely on speaking terms with his brother, and with other senior royals distrustful of Meghan, the potential for future family disagreements playing out in the media spotlight remains.
The announcement of their return came a day before a London court ruling meant Harry could be liable to pay millions of dollars to the publisher of the Daily Mail after a failed privacy lawsuit. Meanwhile, Yahoo Entertainment reported that media outlets have indicated Meghan was in talks about a return to acting, although neither her representatives nor those involved with the mooted TV drama commented, and it was later reported the offer had been withdrawn because of a backlash. There was no immediate comment from Harry’s spokesperson regarding their arrival.
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