In brief
- A transatlantic flight between Los Angeles and Birmingham estimated at more than 120,000 dollars (around 110,000 euros).
- The couple were travelling aboard a Bombardier Global Express XRS chartered from the company Planet 9.
- A move marking the family’s prolonged return to England, six years after their departure for California.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s prolonged return to British soil was orchestrated far from the discretion of scheduled commercial flights, aboard a private transatlantic flight estimated at more than 120,000 dollars, marking their relocation to England in this month of August 2026. Six years after stepping back from the royal family and settling in California, the Sussexes are opening a new chapter of their lives in England, settling outside of royal residences while maintaining their private activities.
The sovereign privacy of the Bombardier Global Express XRS
The choice of an aircraft of this scale highlights the requirement for confidentiality and security surrounding each of the family’s movements. In the business aviation industry, the use of ultra-long-range private jets makes it possible to avoid the heavy traffic of traditional commercial terminals. For high-profile public figures, this option represents the only way to guarantee complete isolation from media attention, while ensuring an impeccable continuity of service throughout the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.
The ultra-exclusive comfort of the Bombardier Global Express XRS
To connect Van Nuys airport, located near Los Angeles, to Birmingham airport, the couple chartered an aircraft from the company Planet 9. This journey of around ten hours was made aboard a Bombardier Global Express XRS, a business jet refitted in 2023 to offer the pinnacle of contemporary comfort. Costing around 12,000 dollars per flight hour, this transatlantic trip has an estimated overall cost of more than 110,000 euros. Inside, the aircraft offers a high-end configuration including two bathrooms, five beds and a capacity to accommodate thirteen passengers, complemented by a generous hold capable of holding around fifteen pieces of luggage.
The Bombardier Global Express XRS stands out as an essential benchmark for intercontinental flights. Developed by the Canadian manufacturer Bombardier to compete with the most spacious models on the market, it is distinguished by its particularly wide and quiet cabin, optimised to reduce jet lag fatigue. The complete renovation carried out in 2023 guarantees modern finishes, blending noble materials, reinforced acoustic insulation and latest-generation connectivity systems, essential for working or relaxing in complete serenity above the ocean.
- Aircraft: Bombardier Global Express XRS
Operator: Planet 9
Founded on an ultra-personalised service model, the company Planet 9 has established itself as a major player in high-end private jet chartering, managing a fleet of aircraft capable of operating direct non-stop flights worldwide. Based in California, it regularly meets the logistical requirements of wealthy clients, corporate executives and international celebrities demanding absolute flexibility and strict respect for privacy.
- Operator: Planet 9
- Route: Van Nuys Airport (Los Angeles): Birmingham Airport
Duration: Around 10 hours
The direct connection between the west coast of the United States and the heart of England requires rigorous planning. Over a distance of nearly 8,500 kilometres, the great-circle track flies over the far north of America and Greenland before beginning the descent towards British territory. A ten-hour non-stop flight requires a highly qualified flight crew and dedicated cabin staff, ensuring the well-being of each occupant throughout the journey.
- Duration: Around 10 hours
- Estimated cost: 120,000 dollars (around 110,000 euros)
Passengers: 4 (and two dogs)
The interior space, originally designed for thirteen passengers, offered exceptional freedom of movement for the four family members. This low density on board accentuates the feeling of space and allows distinct areas to be set up for the children to rest and the parents to work. The absence of third parties in the cabin guarantees absolute peace and quiet, which is particularly appreciable during transatlantic night flights.
- Passengers: 4 (and two dogs)
The strategic choice of anchor points: from Van Nuys to the Cotswolds
Van Nuys Airport, located in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles, is globally recognised as one of the most dynamic and discreet hubs for general aviation. Preferred to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) by residents of Montecito, Beverly Hills and Malibu, it allows direct boarding from private terminals away from prying eyes. This platform avoids long check-in procedures and offers direct access to the runway for security vehicles.
Upon arrival, Birmingham Airport was an equally sensible strategic option. Less congested than major London airports such as Heathrow or Gatwick, it offers high-end reception services for private flights and avoids immediate media attention in the capital. Located at an ideal distance from the Cotswolds region, Birmingham offers a seamless entry point to the heart of England, facilitating the final overland transition to their new residence.
Family logistics designed for the comfort of their loved ones
Beyond prestige, the decision to charter such an aircraft met very specific logistical and family requirements. Only four seats were occupied by the couple and their children, Archie, aged 7, and Lilibet, aged 5, but the cabin also welcomed their two dogs, Pula, a black labrador, and Mia, a beagle. This bespoke configuration allowed the pets to travel in the cabin, thus avoiding the stress of being transported in the hold on a standard commercial flight. The rest of their animal household, including their son Archie’s famous chicken coop, remained at their property in Montecito, California.
The transatlantic transport of pets is subject to extremely strict British health regulations, managed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The use of an approved private flight considerably simplifies the administrative procedures and ensures that the dogs do not suffer the rigours of prolonged caging in a pressurised hold. For Pula and Mia, the continuous presence of their owners on board was a key factor in keeping them calm during the ten-hour crossing.
The complex logistics of a high-end transatlantic relocation
Organising the transfer of an entire family from one continent to another requires seamless coordination between several specialised service providers. While essential personal belongings and family members travelled by air aboard the Bombardier Global Express XRS, the transfer of bulky material goods requires suitable sea and land freight solutions. Preserving part of the facilities in California, such as the Montecito chicken coop, reflects a desire to maintain a selective anchor across the Atlantic while concentrating the main home in Europe.
Residences in the coastal region of Santa Barbara are characterised by a lifestyle focused on nature and wide-open spaces, a lifestyle that the Sussexes are striving to transpose to England. The administrative management of this move also includes questions of tax residence status and legal compliance for all family members, steps carried out alongside the logistical preparation of the air travel to guarantee a perfectly compliant installation on British soil upon arrival.
The new chapter for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
A new chapter of life on British soil
This major move marks a significant transition in the lives of the Sussexes, who are now settling in England for a long period, without, however, returning to the circle of working members of the monarchy. The family plans to settle in the sought-after Cotswolds region, a leafy haven of peace not far from Highgrove House, the country residence of King Charles III. This geographical proximity is said to particularly delight the British monarch, whose cancer was revealed in 2024, and who is pleased to be able to spend more time with his grandchildren. The couple’s children will also be educated on English soil, while their parents will pursue their various commercial projects.
The Cotswolds region, famous for its rolling hills and its picturesque honey-coloured limestone villages, offers a lifestyle that is particularly sought after by the British elite. This location allows the family to benefit from optimal security and preserved peace, while remaining within a reasonable distance of the capital. For Archie and Lilibet, integration into the English education system represents a decisive step in their development, marking their socialisation within traditional British institutions while growing up close to their paternal grandfather.
The ecological contradiction under fire
A transition marked by ecological controversy
This exclusive journey did not fail to revive debates regarding the ecological consistency of the couple’s public commitments. The carbon footprint of this private flight contrasts sharply with the Sussexes’ regular public statements in favour of environmental preservation and sustainable tourism. Faced with recurring criticism over the use of business jets, Prince Harry had previously recalled the importance of individual responsibility, conceding that no one is perfect but that everyone must strive to limit their personal impact. This new journey nevertheless reignites the controversy among the public, who are sensitive to current climate and economic issues.
The question of the environmental footprint of private aviation remains a highly sensitive topic in contemporary public debate. A transatlantic flight aboard an aircraft in the Bombardier Global Express XRS category generates a significant amount of carbon dioxide per passenger, far higher than that of a standard commercial flight. While the aviation sector is striving to develop sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) to reduce its impact, the repeated use of private jets by figures advocating the ecological transition continues to raise questions about reconciling personal security requirements with environmental exemplarity.
