Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Face Hostile Reaction From Some Cotswolds Locals as Sussexes Return to Britain

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have barely set foot back in Britain, but their highly publicized homecoming is already stirring strong reactions in the area widely tipped to become their new UK base.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at Birmingham Airport shortly before midday on Wednesday after flying privately from California. Their return comes six years after they stepped away from senior royal duties and relocated to the United States.

Harry and Meghan are expected to remain in Britain for what has been described as an “extended period,” although exactly how long they intend to stay has not been settled. Their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, are due to begin school in Britain in September.

The Cotswolds has emerged as one of the locations most strongly linked with the family. But if they do settle in the picturesque English countryside, some residents quoted by the Daily Express have made it clear that they are far from enthusiastic about their prospective new neighbors.

Some Cotswolds residents deliver a harsh verdict

Speaking about the Sussexes’ possible arrival, several locals voiced frustration over both the couple themselves and the attention their presence could bring to an area prized for its relative peace and privacy.

One elderly woman offered perhaps the strongest reaction.

“They should be banned,” she told the Express, before calling the couple “a disgrace” and describing Meghan as “awful.”

Another local, a shop worker in her 60s, argued that Harry had “burned his bridges,” while a passerby suggested the couple were coming back primarily to generate publicity.

Others quoted in the report said Harry and Meghan had “spoiled everything for themselves” and needed to “make their minds up.”

The comments represent the opinions of individual residents rather than evidence of a consensus across the Cotswolds. Nevertheless, they illustrate the scrutiny accompanying the Sussexes as they attempt to establish a new chapter in Britain.

Concerns over attention coming to a famously peaceful area

Beyond personal feelings about Harry and Meghan, some residents expressed a more practical concern: what their presence could mean for everyday life.

The Cotswolds is known for its picturesque villages, historic stone cottages and countryside, and the possibility of one of the world’s most closely watched couples establishing a home there could inevitably bring increased media and visitor interest.

Commentator Carole Malone suggested that locals may be particularly reluctant to deal with the attention surrounding the Sussexes.

“Their neighbours in Montecito are glad to see the back of them because they bring unwanted attention to the area,” she said.

She added that while some people in Montecito might be celebrating their departure, those in the Cotswolds could have a very different reaction.

Reports from California have similarly quoted some Montecito residents expressing relief about the family’s decision to spend more time in Britain, although Harry and Meghan are expected to retain their California home.

Why the Cotswolds keeps emerging as their possible new home

Harry and Meghan have not publicly confirmed exactly where they will live.

However, the Cotswolds has repeatedly emerged in reports about their search for a British base. Page Six reported that the couple had been house hunting in the region, while other reports said they privately visited the area during a recent trip to Britain.

The location would not be entirely unfamiliar territory.

Harry has longstanding connections with the area, while the couple previously rented a property in the Cotswolds following their 2018 wedding. The region would also put them within reach of Highgrove House, King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Gloucestershire residence.

Their arrival at Birmingham Airport on Wednesday has only intensified speculation about where the family will ultimately settle.

How long will Harry and Meghan actually remain in Britain?

One of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding the return is whether this represents a temporary stay or the beginning of a much longer British chapter.

Reports have offered varying possibilities, but a source familiar with the couple’s plans told ABC News that Harry and Meghan themselves had not yet decided precisely how long they would remain in the UK.

What has been established is that they intend to stay for an “extended period of time.”

The schooling of Archie and Lilibet was among the factors influencing the timing of the move.

Despite returning to Britain, Harry and Meghan will not resume their former positions as working members of the Royal Family. They are also expected to live in a private, non-royal residence rather than moving onto a royal estate.

That distinction is significant: this is a return to Britain, not a return to the arrangement the Sussexes left behind in 2020.

Six years after their dramatic royal exit

Harry and Meghan’s decision to come back inevitably carries extra weight because of everything that has happened since their departure.

The couple stepped away from senior royal duties in 2020 before eventually establishing their family home in Montecito.

In the years that followed, both spoke publicly about their experiences inside the monarchy.

Their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey generated worldwide headlines, while Harry later detailed his grievances with the Royal Family in his 2023 memoir, Spare.

Harry also famously referred to his departure for North America as a “freedom flight” in the couple’s Netflix documentary series.

Those episodes remain part of the backdrop to their unexpected decision to spend significantly more time in Britain.

Relationships within the family also remain complicated. Harry’s relationship with King Charles has shown signs of improvement, while his relationship with Prince William is still widely reported to be strained.

Their royal status will not change

Whatever their reasons for returning, the Sussexes will continue living outside the formal structure of the working monarchy.

ITV News reported that there will be no change to Harry and Meghan’s status as private individuals and non-working members of the Royal Family. King Charles was informed of their plans before the move, and the monarch is understood to welcome the opportunity to spend more time with the Sussex family privately.

The family will also retain significant ties to America. Meghan is expected to continue overseeing her business interests, while their Montecito residence will remain part of their lives.

Questions also remain over security arrangements while the Sussexes are in Britain, an issue that has long been particularly important to Harry and has previously complicated visits with his family.

A homecoming already attracting intense attention

Harry and Meghan have not publicly addressed all the details surrounding their new living arrangements, leaving plenty of uncertainty about what their British future will look like.

Where they ultimately settle, how long they remain and how their relationships with other members of the Royal Family develop are all still unresolved.

What is already apparent, however, is that their return will not go unnoticed.

For some Cotswolds residents quoted in the British press, the concern is not simply having two famous people nearby. It is the prospect of photographers, visitors and relentless attention following them into communities valued precisely because they are quiet.

Six years after Harry and Meghan’s departure generated international headlines, their return is doing much the same — and before their new British life has properly begun, some of their possible neighbors are already making their feelings known