The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who purchased a Montecito home in 2020 for $14.65 million, arrived in the U.K. on Aug. 26
Prince Harry has made a swift return to the U.S., just weeks after he and Meghan Markle relocated their family from California to the U.K.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who established their American home base in Montecito after purchasing a $14.65 million mansion in 2020, arrived in the U.K. on Aug. 26 with their children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5.
Their arrival came just one week after reports emerged that the family was preparing to trade their longtime California base for Harry's home country.
Despite making the move across the Atlantic, Harry and Meghan are reportedly searching for a U.K. property that bears a striking resemblance to their sprawling Montecito estate.
Prince Harry has made a swift return to the U.S., just weeks after he and Meghan Markle relocated their family from California to the U.K. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) The couple is also expected to maintain close ties to California, with plans to make return visits so they and their children can spend time with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland.
And Harry has wasted little time returning stateside.
The Duke of Sussex, 42, traveled back to the U.S. to take the stage at an event held during United Nations General Assembly week, where he drew on his own experiences as a father while addressing the potential dangers social media and technology can pose to children.
“But I come to this as a father, one who has shared countless conversations with other parents as they mourned the loss of their children to recklessly built technology," he said.
Harry's appearance comes shortly after Meghan offered a glimpse into some of the couple's most treasured memories in honor of her husband's 42nd birthday.
The Duchess took to Instagram to share a heartwarming montage dedicated to her husband, featuring candid moments with Harry, glimpses of Archie, and footage of the Duke skiing alongside the family's dog, Paula.
The sentimental clip concluded with an intimate moment between the couple as they shared a kiss in a vineyard.
"He's simply the best. Happy birthday my love," Markle captioned the post.
The heartwarming message came after it was reported that the couple plan to make "regular" trips back to California to visit Ragland, who will remain stateside.
“Meghan plans to see her mom regularly. They’re incredibly close," a source close to the couple told People.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who established their American home base in Montecito after purchasing a $14.65 million mansion in 2020, arrived in the U.K. on Aug. 26 with their children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) 
Their arrival came just one week after reports emerged that the family was preparing to trade their longtime California base for Harry's home country. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) 
Despite making the move across the Atlantic, Harry and Meghan are reportedly searching for a U.K. property that bears a striking resemblance to their sprawling Montecito estate. (Getty Images) Markle is said to be hoping to recreate the lavish lifestyle the couple enjoyed in California, with their potential new property mirroring their sprawling Montecito mansion in more ways than one.
The Duchess reportedly wants the U.K. residence to boast nine bedrooms—the same number found inside their California estate—as well as plenty of luxurious amenities.
And with Markle poised to make her return to acting, she is also said to be seeking a home with its own filming studio, according to the Daily Mail.
Harry, meanwhile, appears to be prioritizing privacy and space, reportedly searching for “a lot, and I mean a lot, of land, and no footpaths going across it to protect their privacy.”
While the couple hunts for their dream dwelling, the family is reportedly staying “indefinitely” in the spare room of a friend's Cotswolds mansion.
Several sources told the outlet that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly been eyeing a $16.2 million property, but no deal has been made.
According to People, the family bid farewell to the West Coast on the evening of Aug. 25, traveling to England aboard a private jet.
Before their departure, Harry and Meghan spent their final days in Montecito, surrounded by some of their closest friends, as well as Ragland, an insider told the outlet.
“They wanted to spend time with the people they’re closest to before they left and for the kids to have some special time with friends,” the source said. “It wasn’t a goodbye forever. It was much more, ‘We’ll be back, but this is what we’re doing right now.’"
The insider added that emotions ran high as the Sussexes said goodbye to the life and loved ones they were leaving behind.
“They’ve been planning this for some time, and they feel it’s the right thing for their family, but that doesn’t mean leaving was easy. Meghan really loves their life in Montecito and their home there. They know it’s going to take a little bit of time for everyone to settle in and adjust. There’s excitement about what’s ahead too, especially for the kids," the source added.
The couple is also expected to maintain close ties to California, with plans to make return visits so they and their children can spend time with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland. (Netflix) 
And Harry has wasted little time returning stateside. (CBS) 
Harry's appearance comes shortly after Meghan offered a glimpse into some of the couple's most treasured memories in honor of her husband's 42nd birthday. (YouTube/WellChild) The insider revealed that Harry “wants them to understand the world he grew up in and where their family comes from.”
“Meghan feels very fortunate that they’re able to give Archie and Lilibet the opportunity to experience both worlds,” the source added.
Harry and Meghan are said to have already enrolled Archie and Lilibet at a British school, which they will begin attending in September, according to reports from U.K. publication The Telegraph and People magazine.
Insiders told both publications that the couple will establish a private residence in the U.K. However, it is unclear whether they will base themselves near London or in the countryside. Harry and Meghan have not had a British home base since 2023, when they were forced to give up their lease on Frogmore Cottage, the royal residence in Windsor, where they moved after their 2018 wedding.
Harry's father, King Charles, is understood to have been informed of the couple's plans on Aug. 16, and he is reportedly excited for the "opportunity to see more of the Sussex family in a private and personal capacity." However, the New York Times states that the matter was not discussed during the Sussexes' recent meeting with the king in the U.K.
There is no suggestion that the move means Harry and Meghan will return to their former roles as working members of the royal family. In fact, insiders note that Charles has made clear the couple will continue to act as private individuals.
Those same sources also insist that Harry and Meghan are not currently planning to let go of their $14.65 million Montecito mansion, which they purchased in June 2020, soon after stepping down from their royal roles.
When the couple moved, Archie was still an infant, and Lilibet was born in California. Both children have attended school in the Montecito area in recent years—while Meghan has been busy building a lifestyle brand, As Ever, which was inspired by her life in the California enclave.
Meghan will continue to run her business from her new home in the U.K., sources stated, while the move will allow Harry to further involve himself in the British charities that he has been working with for several years.
Their decision to relocate back to the U.K. suggests a significant thawing in the rift between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family, a divide that has been further deepened by Harry and Meghan's repeated attacks on the monarchy—including their explosive tell-all primetime interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.