Entertainment

Harry and Meghan return to the United Kingdom after six years

By
Harry and Meghan return to the United Kingdom after six years
In a move that nobody saw coming, Meghan Harry and Meghan returned to the United Kingdom yesterday with their family, after living in California for more than six years. After stepping out of the spotlight for a while, this new development raises many questions about their relationship with the British royal family. The relationship with King Charles is said to have improved, while the bond between Harry and his brother Prince William seemed to remain tense. Did they finally choose reconciliation?

The return

British media reported yesterday that the family had arrived at Birmingham Airport and that the move was not just speculation. Archie and Lilibet, now 7 and 5 years old, are enrolled in British schools for the upcoming school year. Harry and Meghan are not returning as ‘working royals’, as they will not be performing official duties for the monarchy. They will also not live in a royal family residence, as they did before when they lived in Frogmore Cottage near Windsor Castle. How long Harry and Meghan will stay in England is still unclear. According to the Associated Press, it is expected to be a long-term stay, but no end date is known. Moreover, they retain their home in Montecito, California, meaning their return does not necessarily mean they are leaving their American life behind completely.

Harry and Meghan visited King Charles

The family recently spent time with King Charles. This was the first personal meeting between Charles and his grandchildren since 2022, when Queen Elizabeth passed away. In recent years, Harry has spoken out several times about his desire to mend the rift with his family. In an interview with the BBC in May 2025, he said: “I would really like to reconcile with my family. It makes no sense to keep arguing. Life is precious.” Since King Charles announced in February 2024 that he had been diagnosed with cancer, Harry has traveled back and forth a few times to see his father.

Why did Harry and Meghan move to America?

In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced that they would step back as senior members of the royal family. One of the officially stated reasons was that they wanted to become financially independent. Before their departure, Harry had already criticized the British tabloids and the way Meghan was treated, comparing it to how his mother, Princess Diana, was treated by the press.

What happened after their departure?

After their move to the US, a few media appearances followed that escalated the situation. In 2021, the interview with Oprah aired, in which they extensively talked about their experiences within the royal family and the difficulties they claimed to have faced. They accused the royal family, among other things, of racism, and the statements did not sit well with the family. “We are very much not a racist family,” Prince William responded to questions from the press. However, it didn't stop there; in 2022, the couple released a Netflix series, in which they delved even deeper into their experiences with the royal family. The following year, Harry's explosive memoirs, Spare, were published, in which he shared direct conversations between him and his family. After this, the already fragile family relationship seemed to be almost completely broken.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Oprah (@oprah)

Why are Harry and Meghan returning to the UK after six years?

Besides wanting to rebuild his relationship with his family, Harry has always maintained his British projects and charitable work over the past few years. He is involved with WellChild, an organization that supports seriously ill children, and is the patron of the Invictus Games, an international sports event he founded for injured or sick veterans.

For Meghan, the return seemed to mean a significant career move: she would make a comeback as an actress. According to ITV News, she was offered a role in Guy Ritchie's Netflix series The Gentlemen, which was extended for a third season earlier this week. Although reports emerged that Meghan's potential role had been withdrawn after negative reactions, Netflix has not yet denied her casting. In other words, it is still unclear whether she will resume her acting career.

One thing is clear, however: Harry and Meghan are not returning to the life they left behind six years ago. Once, William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan were referred to by the British press as the ‘Fab Four’. Whether we will see the quartet together again remains to be seen, but the new chapter certainly brings new opportunities for the royal family.