Prince Harry and Meghan have settled into their new life in the United Kingdom after six years in California, arriving on August 26, 2026, with their two children on a private jet that landed at Birmingham Airport. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are establishing a private, non-royal residence in the Cotswolds area outside London and will not resume any official royal duties, according to CNN and BBC reports.
Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, are enrolled in a British prep school costing over $35,000 annually and are set to begin classes in early September, marking their first formal education in the United Kingdom. The family brought their dogs, Mia and Pula, though their rescued chickens remain in California, a Sussex spokesman told BBC News.
The move comes roughly one month after the family visited King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove, the monarch’s private country residence in Gloucestershire, in July. It was the first time the 77-year-old king had been reunited with his grandchildren in four years, according to CNN. King Charles was informed of the family’s relocation plans earlier in August, and Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, were also told of the decision, the BBC reported.
Harry and Meghan will maintain their $14 million Montecito mansion in California, as well as a vacation property in Portugal, according to multiple outlets including People and TMZ. The couple’s decision to keep their American home while establishing a UK base reflects their intent to maintain a transatlantic presence rather than a complete departure from the United States.
The family’s return to Britain marks a significant shift after they stepped back from official royal duties in early 2020 and moved to California that March. Since then, the couple has cited tabloid intrusion, racism in British institutions, and family dynamics as reasons for their departure. Harry has made several trips back to the UK over the years, including for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022 and King Charles’s coronation in 2023, though this is the first time Meghan has returned to Britain alongside Harry and their children since the Queen’s funeral.
Security arrangements for the family remain uncertain. Harry lost a legal challenge last year against the Home Office over his security entitlements after stepping back from royal duties. At the time, he said he couldn’t “see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK,” according to CNN. It remains unclear whether security provisions have changed or who will bear the cost of protecting the family in Britain.
Sources
- BBC News — Prince Harry and Meghan’s arrival on August 26, 2026, at Birmingham Airport, family details, Cotswolds residence plans, and King Charles’s notification
- CNN — Confirmation of arrival, children’s school enrollment, Montecito property details, July visit to King Charles, and security background
- InStyle — Children’s UK prep school costs and enrollment details
- People — Confirmation of maintained properties and King Charles notification timeline
- TMZ — Montecito mansion retention plans
