Prince Harry’s return to the United Kingdom has received a warm welcome from one of his closest family connections on his late mother Princess Diana’s side.

Just hours after the Duke of Sussex landed in Britain with Meghan Markle and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, Lady Eliza Spencer spoke publicly about the family’s move, describing the return as “exciting” and expressing hope that she would have an opportunity to see her cousin.

The Sussexes arrived in the UK on Wednesday, August 26, marking their first extended return to Britain since stepping back from royal duties and moving to California six years ago.

Lady Eliza Spencer welcomes Harry’s return

Lady Eliza Spencer, the daughter of Diana’s brother Charles Spencer, was attending the official launch of her rosé brand, Lala V, at Knightsbridge drinks retailer Hackstons on Wednesday evening when she was asked about Harry’s return.

Her response was notably warm.

“Absolutely, it’s exciting! We would love to be able to find some time to visit,” Eliza said.

The 34-year-old is Harry’s cousin through the Spencer family, and her comments mark one of the first public reactions from a member of his extended family since the Sussexes arrived back in Britain.

Eliza also joked about the possibility of exchanging wine-making advice with Meghan, given that both women have launched their own rosé wines.

The comments suggest there is at least an openness within Harry’s Spencer relatives to reconnect with the family following his move back to Britain.

It is not known when Eliza last saw Harry. However, the Duke has generally remained close to his Spencer relatives, particularly his uncle Charles Spencer, Diana’s younger brother.

Harry and Meghan return after six years in California

Harry and Meghan arrived in Britain with Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, after flying privately from California.

The family is understood to have landed in Birmingham before making their way to their new home. The precise location has been kept private because of security and privacy concerns.

The couple are expected to remain in Britain for an “extended period,” although they have not publicly confirmed exactly how long they intend to stay.

Their return comes six years after Harry and Meghan stepped away from their roles as working royals in 2020 and established their life in the United States.

The family had been living in Montecito, California, since 2020. Their return to Britain does not mean they are resuming royal duties. Harry and Meghan are expected to remain private, non-working members of the Royal Family while living in the country.

They are also not giving up their California home, meaning the move appears to represent a significant period of time in Britain rather than an immediate permanent break with their life in the United States.

Archie and Lilibet’s education is believed to be part of the move

One of the major factors surrounding the Sussexes’ return is the education of their children.

Archie and Lilibet are understood to have been enrolled at a British school and are expected to begin their education there in September.

Harry has previously spoken about missing Britain and wanting his children to have a connection to his homeland.

The decision to bring the children back to Britain therefore represents a significant change for the family, who have spent most of Archie and Lilibet’s lives in the United States.

Their new home, however, is not expected to be a royal residence. The family are believed to be establishing themselves in a private, non-royal property, with the exact location being kept confidential.

The return could bring Harry closer to the Spencer family

Living in Britain again may also allow Harry and his children to spend considerably more time with members of the Spencer family.

During their years in California, opportunities for regular contact with Harry’s British relatives were naturally more limited.

The Duke has nevertheless maintained links with his mother’s family, and his relationship with the Spencers has remained an important connection to Diana’s side of the family.

Harry’s recent return also comes after a private family meeting earlier this summer, when King Charles met Meghan and his grandchildren during a visit to Britain.

The Sussexes’ relationship with the wider Royal Family remains complicated, particularly following years of public criticism and revelations in Harry’s memoir Spare and the couple’s Netflix documentary.

Their relationship with Prince William remains particularly strained, and there are currently no plans for Harry or Meghan to return as working royals.

Why are Harry and Meghan returning to Britain?

The exact motivation behind the move has not been fully explained by the couple.

One apparent factor is their children’s education, with Archie and Lilibet expected to begin school in Britain.

Family may also play a role.

A return to the UK would give Harry greater access to his relatives, including the Spencer family, while allowing Archie and Lilibet to spend more time in the country where their father was raised.

There has also been speculation surrounding Meghan’s professional plans in Britain, including reports that she could return to acting. However, those reports remain separate from the confirmed details of the family’s relocation.

For now, Harry and Meghan have offered few details about their plans, choosing to keep their residence and other aspects of their private life out of the public eye.

A new chapter for the Sussex family

Harry’s return represents a striking change from the position he expressed in 2025, when he said he could not see a future in which he would bring his wife and children back to Britain.

Now, just over a year later, the Sussex family has arrived in the country for an extended stay.

Whether the move eventually develops into a permanent return remains unclear.

For the moment, however, Harry has brought his immediate family back to the country he once left behind, while Lady Eliza Spencer’s warm reaction suggests that at least some members of his extended family are looking forward to having him closer again.

And with Archie and Lilibet preparing to begin school in Britain, the Sussexes’ latest chapter is likely to be considerably more connected to Harry’s home country than the life they built in California.

Source: Compiled from various sources