Duke of Sussex says he is "great" to be back in Britain, with Invictus Games in his sights

The Duke of Sussex has said it feels "great" to be back in Britain after more than six years of living in California, in comments made to Canadian broadcaster CTV. The interview came shortly after the prince took part in a charity skydive near Toronto, suggesting the couple's UK return is already reshaping his public schedule as well as his family's day-to-day life.

Speaking to the network, Harry described the return as "great" and said he was glad to be back on British soil. He singled out two immediate reasons for treating the move as a positive development: that his children are settled and happy at school, and that being in the UK gives him the chance to concentrate on the Invictus Games, the multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans which he founded and which is due to take place in Birmingham in July next year.

The Sussexes stepped back from their duties as senior working royals and began a new life in the US in 2020, a decision that led to a prolonged and highly public rupture with the British royal family. They have now been living in Britain full-time since last month, with the family thought to be based at a private property outside London in the Cotswolds area.

The move has not been entirely smooth. The couple's children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, had to be transferred to a different school only days after starting there, amid security concerns about the school run. It is understood that the family's private security team raised specific worries about the distance involved and heavy traffic on the route, underlining how quickly the practical realities of a full-time return to Britain have complicated the family's plans.

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has largely stayed out of the public eye since the return, making few public appearances. She has, however, shared glimpses of family life back in England on Instagram, including an image of the couple walking along a country path with their children. The restrained public profile contrasts sharply with the period before the move to California, when the couple's departure from royal duty generated weeks of front-page coverage.

Harry, by contrast, has already carried out several public engagements connected to his Invictus Games work. Last week he visited a school in Birmingham to launch an education programme inspired by the games, where he played pickleball with pupils and joined a science lesson on prosthetic design. The visit gave him a platform to promote the Games while also demonstrating what organisers hope will be one of their lasting legacies beyond the medal events.

The scale of that legacy is significant. The Games are due to run in Birmingham from 10 to 17 July next year, with 550 wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans from 25 nations expected to compete across 12 adaptive sports. For Harry, who has often described the Invictus Games as the motivation for his post-royal work, hosting the event in his home country represents the most substantial public role he has taken on in Britain since stepping down.

His trip to Canada, however, showed that his charitable activity is not confined to the UK. Harry spoke to CTV after completing a skydive in Toronto, having made a promise to a 102-year-old World War Two veteran and hoping to raise awareness of military charities. The appearance is typical of his pattern of using high-profile, physically demanding challenges to draw attention to the causes he supports.

Asked directly what had prompted the family's return to the UK, Harry said there were "lots of reasons" but did not elaborate. The non-answer has left observers with more questions than answers, particularly given the family is now resident rather than visiting and has financial and practical questions to resolve.

One of the most significant of those relates to status. The couple were reportedly surprised by a letter authorised by the King, which reiterated that they are private citizens and set out guidance for senior government and military figures on how they should be treated. The intervention was understood to have landed without advance warning and has been seen as a pointed illustration of the strained relationship between Harry and King Charles, which has been ongoing since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex relinquished their senior royal roles and relocated.

That relationship remains the backdrop to every step the family takes. Harry's own remarks that his children are settled at school, and his commitment to the Birmingham Games, point to a deliberate effort to build a life in Britain — but one that increasingly appears to be constructed outside the royal family's inner circle.

The unresolved question is money. The Sussexes are still waiting to learn whether they will receive taxpayer-funded security in the UK. Ravec, the committee which oversees royal and VIP protection, is set to reconsider the level of police protection the family receives now that they are full-time residents rather than visitors. Whatever determination follows, it is likely to set a precedent for other high-profile figures who have left public duty but remain connected to it, and it will test whether the family's new life in the Cotswolds is as settled as their public appearances suggest.