Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s move back to the U.K. has become a major topic of discussion.
The couple is reportedly preparing to switch to an English lifestyle for their family, including their two children, who would enroll in British schools by September. Amid these plans, they are not saying goodbye completely to their Montecito home yet.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have pitched their tent in different locations around the globe, from their single years to their married life. They left the United Kingdom in 2020 and officially stepped away from their roles as working senior royals.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly making another major move back to the U.K. six years after the famous 2020 Megxit. Reports indicate they would be on British soil for “an extended period of time,” as they have secured a home whose exact location remains under wraps.
Another indication that their stay in the U.K. will be for quite a while is that 7-year-old Prince Archie and 5-year-old Princess Lilibet are scheduled to begin their British education this coming school year.
The couple, however, has not fully parted ways with their life in the States. The Sun reports that Meghan and Harry will keep their £11 million mansion in Montecito, California, and their Portuguese vacation home, which they used last month before traveling back to Britain for a series of engagements.
Could keeping their Montecito home signal that their move to the United Kingdom isn’t permanent? Or are they leaving the door open to a Megxit 2.0?
The Couple May Call One Of These U.K. Areas Home Soon
5Meghan and Harry are reportedly moving to a private, non-royal U.K. base outside London, but they have yet to disclose the exact location. Speculation is that the couple may choose either a star-studded area or a place close to family with sentimental value.
The Cotswolds is one area that might be their new home, as it is increasingly popular with American celebrities and A-listers who want to lead a quiet, discreet life outside the States. It is also close to King Charles’s Highgrove Estate, where the family reconciled with the King and Queen last month.
The Cotswolds would also be an attractive area for Meghan because of the nearby Soho Farmhouse. The ‘Suits’ actress is famously friends with exec Markus Anderson, often dubbed the “King of Soho House,” who helped arrange discreet dates for her and Harry when they began dating.
On the other hand, Northamptonshire seems like another option as Harry may want to be close to his mother’s childhood home at Althorp House. Princess Diana’s grave is there, and his uncle, Earl Spencer, lives there as well.
Windsor makes the list as Royals often choose it for its peaceful scenery. However, the Prince and Princess of Wales live in nearby Forest Lodge. Because of their reported friction, they likely won’t want to live so close.
The U.K. Move Dubbed As Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s Last Resort
5The couple’s decision to return to the U.K. just six years after stepping away from their royal duties shocked many, especially royal experts.
Richard FitzWilliams, reacting to the news, said much about their latest decision remains behind the scenes. He labeled it an “extraordinary development” before sharing his personal views on the matter.
“The first thought I have is that, frankly, they’ve failed to make it in the United States,” FitzWilliams told news outlets, adding that Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, does not seem to be thriving as well. He further highlighted that part of their relocation plan could be King Charles showing up for the 2027 Invictus Games.
As shared by The Blast, royal correspondent Peter Hunt said this latest development may put Prince William in a tight spot, with no choice but to mend their fractured relationship.
The Couple’s Return To The U.K. May Have Been A Long Time Coming
5In 2024, it was rumored that Meghan and Harry were relocating to Portugal as their life in the United States did not turn out as they had expected. They reportedly invested millions of dollars in a home at the Costa Terra Golf and Ocean Club, close to Harry’s cousin, Princess Eugenie.
At the time, Grant Harrold, the former personal butler to King Charles, suggested that their rumored move back to Europe was a sign that they were slowly “moving back in the direction of the U.K.” During an exclusive interview with The New York Post, he noted that it was not unusual for people to relocate to Europe from the States. So the Sussexes’ decision wasn’t entirely surprising.
“It’s possible their life in the States wasn’t what they had hoped for, and that could explain why they’re reportedly heading back toward the UK,” Harrold said while also raising speculation about a possible royal family reconciliation.
Where Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Have Lived Over The Years
5The couple first called a 2-bedroom Nottingham cottage home after they tied the knot. The property was Harry’s former bachelor pad and was home to Prince William and Princess Kate before Harry moved in in 2012. The Duke proposed to the “Suits” star in the garden outside in 2017.
Before their wedding, the lovebirds signed a two-year lease on a Grade II-listed farmhouse in the Cotswolds. The 18th-century house sits on four acres of private land on the 4000 acre Great Tew Estate.
In 2019, Prince Harry and his wife moved to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. They spent £2.4 million on renovations and gifted the property to Princess Eugenie, her husband, and son on the condition that Meghan and Harry would stay there whenever they visited the U.K.
Upon their exit as working senior royals, they stayed at Tyler Perry’s house in Beverly Ridge Estates with Archie before getting their own home. The Standard shares that the couple purchased their Montecito home after staying at Perry’s Los Angeles house for three months. The home in Portugal turned out to be a holiday retreat spot for the Sussexes.
