Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have returned to the UK today with their two children, six years after they dramatically stepped down as working royals, reports say.

Although questions remain over their security provision after Harry lost a legal challenge over the levels afforded to him and his family last year, it has been reported they will relocate to a private, non-royal residence that is believed to be outside London.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Harry, Meghan, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, arrived at Birmingham airport on Wednesday lunchtime.

A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan also told the BBC their arrival was “not something we would comment on”.

Last week, it emerged that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were planning to with their children after relinquishing their and leaving the UK for California.

The pair are not expected to take on official duties, but will live in Britain as private citizens and non-working royals.

Archie and Lilibet are reportedly enrolled to start at a British school in September.

‘Half-in, half-out’ option for pair’s royal duties ruled out

Royal sources have suggested that Harry and Meghan will remain private individuals and not taxpayer-funded representatives of the monarchy.

That means there are no plans for either the Duke or Duchess of Sussex to return to their official working roles within the Royal Family.

The pair will not be offered a “half-in, half-out” option when it comes to their roles, in keeping with a 2021 review presented to Queen Elizabeth II which confirmed they had been stood down as working royals.

The Queen said Harry and Meghan could not maintain a “half-in, half-out” approach to royal duties while also pursuing commercial opportunities.

While the Sussexes are expected to be welcomed at some Royal Family occasions, they will likely be banned from big official or state events.

What has been the King’s reaction?

King Charles was understood to have been told of Harry and Meghan’s return last Sunday.

He was believed to have been pleased at the opportunity to see his family on a regular basis, both in a private and professional capacity.

But the King has been clear that Harry and Meghan’s status as non-working royals and private individuals, in keeping with their previously expressed wishes, will remain unchanged.

Charles and Harry did not discuss the Sussexes’ move back to the UK when they visited him at Highgrove in July – the first time the King met his grandchildren.

Meanwhile, there has been no such reunion so far between Harry and William, the Prince of Wales, who was playing in a charity polo match at Windsor when the King met the Sussexes in July.

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, and William are not understood to have mended their relationship with the Sussexes after they relinquished their royal roles, with their return adding new complexity to the official work of the monarchy.

What security arrangements are being made?

The Sussexes’ security arrangements following their return have not yet been disclosed.

They have been a key sticking point for Harry when talking about the prospect of moving back to the UK with his family.

Last year, Harry lost a legal battle over the levels of security his family and he are entitled to while in the UK.

The Duke sought to overturn a decision to downgrade his security after he stopped being a working royal and moved to the US with Meghan.

On his recent summer visit to the UK in July, Harry came alone, followed by Meghan and his children later flying into the country in secret.

Andy Burnham would not be drawn on whether the Government would fund their security, saying last week that their return to Britain was a “private matter”.

“It’s a matter for Harry and for Meghan, and we wish them well in the move that they are making,” he added.

A Home Office spokesperson told The i Paper: “The UK Government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate.

“It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.”