Prince Harry and Meghan Markle land in Birmingham on private jet

FILE PHOTO - The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. // A British-American couple who swapped their life in the US for Yorkshire say they "know how Harry and Meghan feel" as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex prepare to move back to the UK. Tom Bateman, 35, and his American wife Britney, 36, have spent the past six weeks settling into life in Britain with their four children after 17 years living in the US. And as reports emerge that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are also looking to spend more time back in Britain, the couple say they understand the emotional pull of returning home - and the challenges of leaving America behind. Tom, who was born in England, says he can particularly understand Harry's desire to be around the people and culture he grew up with. Photo released 21/08/2026

Markle are understood to have landed in the UK.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their two children announced plans earlier this month to spend ‘an extended period’ across the pond.

Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet are understood to have flown into Birmingham Airport from California, where the couple has lived since 2020, at around lunchtime on Wednesday, according to multiple media reports.

The pair are not expected to resume official duties now that they are here.

"We know how Megan and Harry feel after our move from the US back to the UK"

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Instead, they will live here as private citizens and will be classed as non-working royals.

They are thought to have found accommodation in the Cotswolds and to have already enrolled Archie and Lilibet in a local school ahead of the start of the autumn term next week.

The Sunday Times previously suggested Harry and Meghan’s return may not be permanent.

Sources ‘close to the Sussexes’ told the paper that the couple did not expect their move to be ‘for ever’.

One told the publication: ‘It’ll be an extended period of time — it could be six months, it could be a year, it could be more — I don’t think even they know yet.’

They added: ‘They might suddenly go: “Why don’t we try Canada for a while? Why don’t we try Australia?”‘

Being in the UK will make it easier for Harry to spend time with his father, King Charles, and introduce his family to his other relatives, having been estranged from many of them since he stepped back from royal duties with Meghan six years ago.

Royal expert Duncan Lanscombe previously told  he ‘can’t see any reconciliation with [Prince] William as far as things stand’ after Harry and Meghan made a number of accusations aimed at him and his wife, Kate Middleton, in TV appearances.

He said: ‘Harry told [ITV] in his interview, that the ball was effectively in the royal court – it was for them to reach out.

‘I think William feels the exact opposite and that he’s owed an apology, his wife’s owed an apology, and if Harry and Meghan don’t give that apology and make the effort, I don’t think there’s any hope for the end of the rift.’

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Original source Prince Harry and Meghan Markle land in Birmingham on private jet

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