Five years after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relocated to California, subtle signals suggest Harry is warming to a potential return to Britain, while Meghan stays rooted in the United States. This transatlantic divide tests the monarchy’s ability to evolve amid family strains and modern realities.
The Transatlantic Split
In January 2020, the couple stepped back from senior royal roles, rejecting Queen Elizabeth II’s refusal of a part-time arrangement. They lost publicly funded security and full-time duties, settling in Montecito to pursue media ventures, philanthropy, and raising Archie, now 6, and Lilibet, 4. Their life there emphasizes independence from daily royal pressures.
Meghan’s stance contrasts sharply with any notion of return. PR expert Lynn Carratt noted her “difficult experience” in the UK, making a full return unlikely. Her career, including the As Ever lifestyle brand and Netflix series With Love, Meghan, ties her to California for safety and growth. Commentators see her identity and networks as firmly American.
Harry’s Growing UK Intentions
In a November 2025 Remembrance Day essay, Harry wrote that “though currently, I may live in the United States, Britain is, and always will be, the country I proudly served and fought for.” Royal observers interpret “currently” as deliberate, hinting his U.S. stay is not permanent and leaving space for a UK shift.
Royal commentator Ian Pelham Turner, a former photographer who knew Princess Diana, stated Harry is “very serious about returning to Britain.” He believes Meghan and the children would be welcomed for part-year stays. Analysts agree Harry keeps options open, marking the broadest window for reconciliation since 2020.
Security blocks progress. A February 2024 High Court ruling cut Harry’s automatic UK police protection, but late 2025 brought a government review of his arrangements. Reports cite Turner on a “Bring Harry Back” effort involving King Charles and Prince William, spurred by Charles’s cancer and Prince Andrew’s sidelining. Palace sources remain silent.
The Children’s Dual Heritage
Archie and Lilibet, raised mostly in the U.S., embody the split. Harry insists they learn about “the country I grew up in” and their British roots. Family videos highlight their American life, yet they represent the first Windsor children primarily outside the UK royal framework.
The children’s upbringing in California, far from the daily scrutiny of British tabloids and royal protocol, reflects Meghan’s determination to provide them with the privacy and normalcy she felt was impossible in the UK. Yet Harry’s public statements about ensuring they understand their British heritage suggest an ongoing negotiation between their American present and their royal lineage.
Future Scenarios and Stakes
Experts float a divided-life model: Harry in Britain for charities like WellChild and Scotty’s Little Soldiers, Meghan U.S.-based. This could mean 10-15 yearly transatlantic trips, feasible but taxing for young children and the couple’s relationship. Harry’s UK visits, including a 2025 reunion with Charles, show thawing ties.
Emotional pulls draw Harry to Britain—military bonds, institutions—while the Sussexes’ U.S. media empire offers financial upside. A royal-linked path could yield hundreds of millions via properties and roles, minus multimillion security costs. King Charles’s health adds pressure for phased re-engagement, balancing William’s views and public opinion.
Modern couples often manage separate bases for careers; this could redefine royal flexibility in a binational setup. The coming years will reveal if experimentation yields a global monarchy model or fades as a chapter in the Sussexes’ path.
Sources:
“Prince Harry Reflects on British Pride and Remembrance in Essay for Scotty’s Little Soldiers,” Town & Country, Nov. 4, 2025
“Harry ‘very serious’ about UK return but Meghan is ‘firmly anchored’ in the US,” The Express, Nov. 29, 2025
“Prince Harry seemingly exposes major changes in the wind,” Geo TV, Nov. 16, 2025
“Inside Prince Harry’s chat with Meghan about Archie, Lilibet’s UK roots: Will they go back?,” The News International, Nov. 30, 2025
“A Complete Timeline of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Exit from Royal Life,” People, accessed December 2025
“About Princess Lilibet, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Daughter,” People, June 4, 2025