The British Royal Family appeared unified at a church service on the Balmoral estate in Scotland, shortly after the announcement that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be returning to the United Kingdom. The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, were seen arriving for a service at Crathie Kirk, accompanied by their eldest son, Prince George.
Also in attendance were King Charles and Queen Camilla, along with Princess Anne and her husband Timothy Laurence, and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward. This gathering followed reports that Prince Harry and Meghan are preparing to move back to the UK after six years based in the United States, with their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, set to begin new schools in Britain in September.
The Sussexes are reportedly planning to reside in a private home outside London, with speculation suggesting a move to the Cotswolds. Their current base is in Montecito, California, and they also own a property in Portugal.
King Charles was reportedly surprised by the news of their return, having not been informed when the couple met with him during a recent visit to Britain. Sources indicate that the terms of the 'Megxit' agreement, under which the Sussexes are not considered working royals, will remain unchanged.
The 'Fab Four' dynamic, which once included Harry and Meghan alongside William and Kate, fractured in March 2019 when the Sussexes announced they would establish their own household. This decision followed reports of rifts between the couples.
In January 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their intention to step back as senior members of the Royal Family, aiming for financial independence while splitting their time between the UK and North America. By March of that year, they had established a permanent home in California, officially relinquishing their senior royal roles and HRH titles.
Subsequent events, including accusations made by Harry in his memoir 'Spare' and a Netflix documentary, have further strained relationships. Harry's autobiography detailed alleged physical altercations with William and recounted an incident involving a Nazi uniform. The Netflix series claimed Kensington Palace had misrepresented facts to protect William.
Prince Harry and Meghan previously visited the UK in July, with their children, to support Harry's Invictus Games. During that visit, they met with King Charles at his Highgrove home, though discussions about returning to the UK are not believed to have taken place at that time.