Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly arrived in the UK, just one week after their move back to Harry's home country was announced. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with their children Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, are said to have landed at Birmingham Airport around lunchtime on Wednesday, with the family set to settle in the UK for an "extended period".
Friend says network is stronger
Harry and Meghan quit their royal duties in 2020 as they chased financial and personal freedom from the Royal Family. After relocating to California, the Duke and Duchess levelled a series of accusations against the Firm, claiming they faced pressure from behind Palace walls following their 2018 wedding.
Now, a friend of Meghan's has spoken candidly about how the Sussexes' time in Britain will be 'different' this time around for the Duchess, as she returns to the UK outside the constraints of the Royal Family. Meghan's friend told People magazine: "She has been vocal about how she felt about it before, but that doesn't mean things are going to be exactly the same again. It doesn't mean it can't be different and can't change."
Another source says Meghan's network is better prepared for what lies ahead and "stronger now than it ever was to protect her — to protect them."
Plans for their UK chapter
Rumours have swirled as to where Harry and Meghan will choose to settle for their next chapter in the UK, with suggestions including rural locations in the Cotswolds in Oxfordshire or Gloucestershire, amid speculation over which schools they have chosen for their children. The couple are understood to have secured a home outside of London, which is a non-royal residence.
Speaking of their arrival in Britain, a source told the Telegraph: "How long will they stay? I don't know, but it will be for an extended period. Whether that's six months, a year, two years… who knows."
Sources close to the King and the Prince of Wales have confirmed the monarch and his heir are "in complete lockstep" in terms of not allowing Harry and Meghan to have a "half in, half out" role within the Royal Family.
Charity work and acting rumours
It is believed Harry will continue his charity work while in the UK, dedicating much of his time to preparations for the 2027 Invictus Games, which will take place in Birmingham. Meanwhile, rumours have emerged that Meghan will be returning to acting.
Meghan is believed to be 'in talks' for a role in the Netflix show The Gentlemen, which is filmed in the Cotswolds and has been confirmed for a third season. The Guy Ritchie crime show, which stars Theo James in the lead role, is about a British Duke who unexpectedly inherits his father's country estate and discovers it is home to a cannabis empire run by notorious criminals.
With her return to acting still unconfirmed, PR expert Mayah Riaz has encouraged the career move for Meghan, as she told the Mirror she has the chance to build a profile outside the Royal Family if she chooses the right project. Mayah said: "A return to acting could actually be quite interesting for Meghan because it would take her back to an identity that existed before the Royal Family. There can be something quite powerful about returning to an old profession rather than constantly trying to invent a new one. It could allow people to see Meghan as an actress again, rather than exclusively as the Duchess of Sussex."
