Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have relocated from California to the UK with their two children, in a move described as unexpected given their acrimonious departure from royal duties nearly seven years ago. The couple decided to extend a summer visit — during which they met King Charles at Highgrove and spent time with relatives of Harry's late mother, Diana — into what is reportedly an open-ended stay, raising questions about whether the British press and public will treat them differently this time.

The Sussexes arrived last week with Archie, seven, Lilibet, five, and their two dogs, and are said to be settling into a house in the Cotswolds without "royal trappings," timed for the children to start school for the autumn term. Their return follows years of hostile tabloid coverage that Harry has linked to racism, alongside damaging fallout from the Oprah Winfrey interview, the Netflix documentary and Harry's memoir Spare. Public opinion remains largely unfavourable, with a Mirror poll suggesting the overwhelming majority of nearly 11,000 respondents doubt the couple can rebuild their popularity with Britons.