British royal couple return to UK six years after stepping back from duties

Prince Harry, the youngest son of Britain's reigning monarch, has returned to the UK, effectively ending his years-long residence in California, where he lived with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at Birmingham Airport on August 26, as Caliber.Az reports, referring to British media. It comes days after officially announcing plans to move back to the UK following their departure from Britain in 2020.

Harry, the son of King Charles III and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, married US actress Meghan Markle in 2018. After the birth of their first child, Archie, the couple announced that they would step back from their roles as working members of the Royal Family. They subsequently left the UK for Canada before relocating to California, where they have lived until now.

The couple will not resume official royal duties. Instead, they are expected to live in Britain as private citizens and non-working members of the Royal Family.

According to British media reports, the couple's two children, including their daughter Lilibet, have been enrolled in British schools, with the new school term due to begin next week.

The family visited King Charles, who is undergoing cancer treatment, at his Highgrove residence in July. Before that visit, Harry and Meghan had not been in the UK together since attending Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022.

Tumultuous years

The couple have remained at the center of several royal controversies in recent years, with their decision to step down from royal duties triggering a prolonged period of strained relations with King Charles, the Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the Royal Family.

Harry and Meghan famously gave an interview to US television personality Oprah Winfrey, during which they disclosed numerous private details about their experiences within the Royal Family. Among the most contentious revelations was their claim that an unnamed member of the family had made comments about the potential skin colour of their unborn child that they interpreted as racist.

The following year, the couple published a two-part documentary about their life on Netflix, depicting their move away from the UK.

Several years later, Harry published his memoir, “Spare”, in which he revealed further private details about his relationship with his family, particularly his brother, Prince William, and his father, King Charles. The book, whose title refers to Harry's position as the monarch's second son and William's status as heir to the throne, was published only months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Harry's grandmother, which became a topic of contention for many.

Although Harry and his father have maintained some contact in recent years, speculation remains widespread about the state of Harry's relationship with his brother. There have been indications that Prince William strongly disapproves of his brother's actions and public disclosures in recent years.

By Nazrin Sadigova