Prince Harry, Meghan and kids arrive in UK to begin ‘extended stay’

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their children landed in the UK to start their new chapter, which is being described as an “extended stay” in Harry’s homeland.

A private plane from California carrying Prince Harry, Meghan, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet - and presumably their belongings - was spotted landing at Birmingham Airport just before midday on Wednesday (about 9pm AEST) Telegraph UK reports.

It has been revealed their dogs, Mia and Pula, are also moving to the UK with the family, according to Telegraph UK, but it’s not known if they travelled with the Sussexes or are yet to arrive.

The publication says they “are keeping their chickens in Montecito rather than rehoming them, suggesting they plan to return”.

The couple’s spokesperson would not confirm or deny the news that the Sussexes had arrived in the UK, saying the timing of the family’s move was a private matter.

“This is not something we would comment on,” they reportedly told BBC.

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However, flight tracking data confirms a private charter jet from Van Nuys, California arrived at Birmingham International Airport at 11.56am.

The family were given no police protection for their arrival, according to ITV. Although, there appeared to be enough secrecy surrounding their travel that there had not been any fresh images of the Sussexes on British soil.

News of the Sussexes’ move back to the UK was only revealed last week, though the couple never put out a statement on their big return, six years after quitting their lives as senior working royals and moving to North America.

The confirmation of their move suggested it’s not a permanent return, with it being labelled an “extended stay”, and no further timelines given. It’s also been confirmed the couple will keep their house in Montecito, California as their US base.

It’s understood that while in the UK, the family will base themselves in the Cotswolds, in England’s south-west, which is the same region Princess Anne, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall all live.

The expensive area is also home to many Hollywood names, including Prince Harry’s court case buddy Elizabeth Hurley, Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, as well as their former Montecito neighbour and good friend Ellen DeGeneres.

The two young royals, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, are supposedly already enrolled in a school in the area, with the new school year beginning in September.

This is believed to be the reason for the quick move, giving the kids time to settle into their new home and new lives before school begins.

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While it’s understood Meghan’s top priority will be helping her son and daughter settle into their new routines, as well as continuing her lifestyle brand Asever, it’s also believed the former Suits star could take up TV projects.

However, there are question marks surrounding whether she will appear in Guy Ritchie’s Netflix drama The Gentleman, with reports that an offer to star in season three has been taken off the table due to backlash of the casting.

The series tells the story of a duke turned drug baron.

Prince Harry and Meghan are likely to continue their charitable work while living in the UK, but it’s understood they’ll remain private citizens and won’t be re-joining royal ranks or taking part in official engagements on behalf of King Charles.

Details of the couple’s security arrangements are still unclear, after Prince Harry lost his legal battle for automatic top-level around-the-clock police protection in the UK.

However, he did win the ability to have threat levels against him and his family reassessed by the Home Office’s independent body, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC), but it’s not known if that has been completed.

The threat against the family was considered so serious as recently as July that Harry scrapped plans to bring Meghan and the kids with him to the One Year to Go Invictus Games event he attended in Birmingham.

The whole Sussex family did step foot on UK soil though in a top-secret visit at the time, suggesting there was a chance they could have the quiet and safe life in the UK that they desire.

They met with the King at his private residence of Highgrove during that trip and also travelled to Princess Diana’s ancestral family home and her final resting place, Althorp, in Northamptonshire, where they stayed with Harry’s uncle Earl Spencer.