Prince Harry and Meghan arrive back in UK

Prince Harry and Meghan have returned to the United Kingdom with their children after a six-year absence in the United States. The couple's surprise announcement came amid recent tensions within the royal family. Their private jet touched down at Birmingham International Airport around noon local time, as confirmed by flight-tracking data.

The family is reportedly set to reside in the Cotswolds region, outside of London. The couple's two children, Archie and Lilibet, have already been enrolled in a British school. Harry and Meghan abandoned their royal duties at the beginning of 2020 and relocated to Montecito, California, due to deteriorating relations with the royal family.

During their time in the US, they pursued independent careers, including interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Netflix productions, and legal battles against the press for security breaches. In recent years, the couple has accused palace staff of insensitivity and racism. After losing government-funded security protection last year, Harry claimed he could not envision a safe return to the UK with his family.

Relations between Harry and his father, King Charles, who suffers from cancer, reportedly have improved recently, following a visit last month. The Duke visited the UK in July for Invictus Games charity work, also bringing the family from their Portugal holiday home for a surprise reunion with King Charles. The last time the entire Sussex family was together in the UK was for the Queen's funeral in 2022.

Reports suggest Harry is not on speaking terms with his brother, Prince William. The announcement of their return came a day before a London court ruling that could potentially require Harry to pay millions to the Daily Mail publisher following a failed privacy lawsuit. Meghan is reportedly in talks to return to acting, though neither her agent nor a speculated TV drama has commented.