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US media have been reacting to Harry and Meghan's plans to return to Britain after six years away, with one publication declaring: 'Our long national nightmare is over.'

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's departure from America, six years after they quit Britain and frontline royal roles, is now front page news on both sides of the Atlantic.

It emerged on Wednesday evening that Harry and Meghan would be moving back – possibly 'within days' – as their children prepare to start life at new schools in the UK.

Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, have already enrolled at British schools and will start classes in September, according to a source close to the Sussexes.

Among the first Thursday editions in the US to appear was the New York Post, which made what it described as 'a reverse Megxit' their only front page story.

Alongside a picture of Meghan smiling and Harry looking more serious, the main headline declared: 'Throne back!'

Above that were the words, 'Our long national nightmare is over', while the subheading stated: 'Harry and Meghan returning to UK after failure to take the colonies.'

In a nod to the US's victory in the 18th century American War of Independence, the story began with the intro: 'The Americans have beaten the British again!'

The New York Post was among the first front pages across the Atlantic in the US to give front page coverage to the news the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are returning to the UK

Harry and Meghan, pictured here in Melbourne during their trip to Australia in April this year - it emerged on August 19 that they will be coming back to live in Britain after six years in the US

The article on page one went on to say: 'Six years after the Duke and Duchess gave up their royal life and moved to the United States, they've decided on a reverse Megxit – moving back and enrolling their children in British schools.

'Despite memoirs and a multimillion-dollar Netflix deal, the American public never quite embraced Harry, Meghan and jam.'

The last reference was to the Duchess's streaming TV series featuring her cookery efforts and lifestyle range As Ever which sells $12 (£8.80) fruit spread jars including Raspberry & Lavender Honey Yogurt Parfait and Blackberry Spread.

Comments in response on X when the front page was shared by the New York Post included: 'Don't let the door hit you on the butt on your way out. Buh bye.'

The newspaper's online coverage bore the headline, 'Prince Harry and Meghan Markle scurrying back to UK 6 years after Megxit'.

The same paper previously responded to their US move in 2020 with an illustration of the couple as 'commoners' watching TV on the sofa, with Meghan wearing curlers in her hair and Harry in vest and pants while drinking from a can of beer.

Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Times headlined their online story with 'Goodbye, Montecito', in their Entertainment and Arts section – while People magazine described it as a 'shocking move'.

During TV channel CBS News's coverage, correspondent Dick Brennan described the latest development as a 'stunning turnabout for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex'.

The Los Angeles Times gave this response to news about two of the area's most famous locals

This is how the New York Post previously covered Harry and Meghan on their front page after the couple announced their move to the US in January 2020

Harry and Meghan with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in December 2025 - the two children have been signed up for British schools from this September

Mr Brennan added of Harry: 'Some of the royal watchers we've spoken to here say maybe he just feels like a fish out of water here.

'He's back home, he does the Invictus Games and a lot of plaudits from there and here he's just kind of like another celebrity.'

The CBS story did briefly quote two different women out dining, who both said they were 'happy' for the couple when asked about the news.

The Sussexes are thought likely to live at a private, non-royal residence outside London – with suggestions today they could be moving to the Cotswolds.

Since leaving for the US they have been living in Montecito, California, while also owning a holiday home in Portugal.

His father King Charles was described as being taken aback when only learning of their comeback plans last Sunday – having not been told when the Sussexes met him on their visit to Britain last month.

Sources said that the terms of the Megxit deal under which the Sussexes are not 'working royals' will be unchanged.

The Sussexes' status will remain the same, with the couple not being offered a 'half-in-half-out' option when it comes to their roles.

Harry and ex-Suits star Meghan, who wed at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in May 2018, were once dubbed part of the 'Fab Four' with the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – now the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine.

But in March 2019, Buckingham Palace announced Harry and Meghan would set up their own household, breaking from the joint operation they had with William and Kate, amid reports of rifts between the two couples.

In January 2020, the Duke and Duchess announced they intended to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family, become financially independent, still support Elizabeth II, but split their time between the UK and North America.

By March that year they had set up a permanent home in California, officially stepped down as senior royals and stopped using their HRH styles.

The fallout worsened after accusations Harry publicly levelled at members of the Royal Family including his brother in his memoir Spare and his Netflix documentary.

In his autobiography, released just months after Queen Elizabeth II died, Harry accused William of physically attacking him and pushing him into a dog bowl in a row over Meghan.

He also alleged it was William and Kate who encouraged him to wear a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party in 2005 and 'howled' with laughter when they saw it.

Harry and Meghan were once dubbed part of the 'Fab Four' with the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. They are pictured at the first Royal Foundation Forum event in London in 2018

William, Harry, Meghan and Charles at a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in 2019

Harry and Meghan, in their Netflix series two months after the Queen's death, claimed Kensington Palace lied to protect William when it issued a statement denying a story he had bullied Harry out of the Royal Family.

Harry also wrote of how Charles pleaded with his two sons during a tense meeting at Windsor just after the funeral of Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, saying: 'Please, boys. Don't make my final years a misery.'

Meghan was able to travel to the UK in July with Archie and Lilibet to join Harry when he came to the end of a week-long series of events promoting next year's Invictus Games.

During the visit, the duke and duchess took their children to see the King for the first time in four years at his Highgrove home, but are not thought to have raised the prospect of a return to the UK at that meeting.

The Invictus Games take place from July 10 to 17 next year, with Birmingham expected to welcome about 550 wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, and their families, from 25 nations.

A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess has been contacted for comment today.