Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their children arrived in the UK on Wednesday, flying on a private jet to start their next chapter after abandoning their doomed Megxit to the US.
Duke and Duchess of Sussex flew privately from their recent home in California and landed in Birmingham around lunchtime, the Telegraph reported.
They flew from Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles on a private Bombardier Global Express XRS luxury long-range business jet chartered from California-based Planet Nine Private Air, according to the Daily Mail — which said flights typically cost at least $12,000 an hour.
Flight data suggests it took at least 10 hours, which could put the final price around $120,000.
They also had to pay for their own security because they were not granted publicly funded police protection, which had been a big sticking point — and legal battle — for the king’s youngest son, who saw himself as a royal “spare.”
They plan to stay in the UK for an “extended stay” with their children Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, who are expected to start school there in days.
Their arrival is only the third time Lilibet is known to have been in the UK, despite her dad once being one of the nation’s most beloved royals before his shocking exit and betrayal.
The Sussexes will move into a non-royal residence and not be returning to royal life, and they will continue to pursue their independent businesses.
Here’s the latest on Harry and Meghan’s move back to the UK:
The family is bringing their dogs — Mia and Pula — with them, but are keeping their chickens in Montecito, Cali., which some see as a sign their latest move may not be a permanent one.
“How long will they stay? I don’t know, but it will be for an extended period,” a source told the Telegraph of the family’s constantly changing goals and plans.
“Whether that’s six months, a year, two years … who knows.”
Harry and Meghan revealed last week that they’d be going back to the UK, six years after “Megxit” — when the couple decided to ditch their royal duties to leave the UK for California in March 2020.
Harry wanted to move back to be closer to his dad, King Charles, and to ensure their children would be able to build relationships with their royal relatives after years of strain, sources told Page Six.
The British monarch met with his long-exiled son and daughter-in-law last month — but only learned about his son and daughter-in-law’s plans days before news broke.
Royal reporter Tom Sykes told Page Six that the move “is a huge slap in the face” for William, 44, and will “create serious risks for the monarchy.”
