The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have landed in the UK, touching down at Birmingham Airport at lunchtime today with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, aboard a private jet from California. The arrival marks the start of what sources describe as an "extended stay" rather than a fleeting visit for charity or commemoration purposes.
Unlike previous visits, there was no royal protection to greet them off the plane and no security convoy to escort them home. The couple, who left Britain six years ago on the so-called "Freedom Flight" in 2020, have informed the Home Office of their intention to return, despite Prince Harry saying last year that he could not see a day when he felt it safe enough to bring his wife and children back to the country.
Extended stay and schooling plans
The children, aged seven and five, are enrolled in a British prep school for the start of the new term next week. The family is expected to base themselves in the Cotswolds, according to sources close to the couple, though they will keep their homes in Montecito and Portugal. One source suggested the stay could last "six months, a year, two years… who knows".
Prince Harry only told the King of his intention to move back to Britain three days before the news broke last week. The couple's public engagements are expected to follow soon, with Harry likely to visit charities he has kept ties with, including WellChild, Scotty's Little Soldiers and the Invictus community.
Palace timing and family dynamics
Buckingham Palace chose the same day as the Sussexes' arrival to announce the King and Queen's plans for a royal tour in the autumn, nine weeks from now. The timing has been interpreted as a signal that the royals are getting on with their duties without their new neighbours.
For King Charles, having his grandchildren nearby will be precious, but for the Prince and Princess of Wales, the picture is likely to be more complicated. The brothers remain estranged, and the Sussexes' physical return puts all relationships under increasing spotlight.
Questions ahead
The Sandringham Summit in January 2020, which set out the rules of engagement for Harry and Meghan's new "freedom", remains the elephant in the room. Questions loom over family gatherings, Christmas, birthdays, Balmoral and Sandringham, and whether any apparent reconciliation is genuine. Most importantly, there will be the question of boundaries and who is willing to bend or test them to create a new future.
