Meghan Markle is reportedly prepared to remain in the UK with Prince Harry and their two children—but only if regular trips back to California remain part of their lives.
The Duchess of Sussex, 45, is said to be struggling with homesickness after the family returned to Britain at the end of August. According to reports citing a source familiar with the situation, Meghan misses her friends, her familiar daily routine and, most of all, her mother, Doria Ragland.
The couple are thought to be living in the Cotswolds with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, after spending around six years based in California.
While Harry is reportedly keen for the family to settle into life in Britain, Meghan is said to want to maintain a strong connection with the US through regular visits.
Meghan has reportedly said that she wants regular visits to the US (Image: GETTY)
Meghan is reportedly “very homesick”
According to a source cited by The Telegraph, Meghan’s preference for California is rooted largely in missing the people and routines she left behind.
“Meghan’s heart is back in California,” the source claimed, adding that she wants to spend the holiday there with her mother.
The source said Meghan misses her friends, her everyday routine and Doria, whom she reportedly speaks to every day, sometimes several times.
However, the source suggested that regular phone calls are not the same as being able to spend time together in person.
That homesickness is reportedly shaping the couple’s discussions about how long they will remain in Britain and how often they can return to California.
Meghan wants her children to be able to go back to the US for visits (Image: Instagram/meghan)
Harry and Meghan reportedly have different plans
The biggest difficulty may be the children’s school schedule.
With Archie and Lilibet now attending school in the UK, the family cannot simply travel between Britain and California whenever they wish, according to the source.
That has reportedly left Harry and Meghan facing decisions about where they want to spend important periods of the year.
Meghan is said to be willing to “tough it out” in England, but regular trips back to California would make the move considerably easier for her.
Meghan and Harry are now living in the UK (Image: GETTY)
The source also claimed that Meghan would ideally return to California for Thanksgiving on November 26 and remain there through Christmas.
Harry, however, reportedly wants the family to stay in Britain until at least spring.
The disagreement appears to be less about whether Meghan can stay in Britain at all and more about how closely the family can continue to maintain its California life.
Christmas has become a key point of disagreement
For Meghan, the holiday season is particularly important.
Reports have suggested that she would like to spend Christmas in California with Archie and Lilibet, while Harry prefers to remain in Britain.
One source claimed Meghan loves Thanksgiving traditions and considers Christmas at home with the children especially meaningful because of the family traditions they have created.
Harry, meanwhile, is reportedly keen to remain in the UK for a longer period as the family settles into its new life there.
The conflicting preferences have fueled reports that the couple are not entirely on the same page about their immediate plans.
Security concerns have added another complication
The family’s return to Britain has also been accompanied by renewed security concerns surrounding Archie and Lilibet.
In September, two men carrying backpacks were seen walking around the perimeter of the children’s school and looking into the grounds. Police later established that the men were international photographers working for a European press agency.
Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson described the photographers’ behavior as “extraordinarily reckless” and an “unacceptable intrusion” into the privacy of children.
The incident came only weeks after the family had already changed the children’s school following other security concerns.
The episode has added another layer of uncertainty as the Sussexes adjust to living in Britain again.
Meghan has yet to make an official public appearance
Despite the family’s return, Meghan has kept a relatively low profile in the UK.
She has shared glimpses of her life on social media and has reportedly been seen in the Cotswolds, but she had not made an official public appearance in Britain at the time of the reports.
That may soon change.
The Daily Express reported that Meghan was considering attending Paris Fashion Week as a potential first major public appearance since returning to Europe.
The reported possibility comes as the Express has launched a new weekly royal programme, Royals Unscripted, hosted by Royal Editor Emily Ferguson and commentator Carole Malone.
The 30-minute show launched on October 1, 2026, with new episodes scheduled every Thursday at 7am on YouTube and major podcast platforms.
A difficult adjustment after California
For Meghan, the move represents a major change after years of life in California.
Reports have repeatedly described her as missing her mother, friends and the freedom of her previous routine. Other sources have also claimed she feels more isolated in Britain and is finding the adjustment harder than expected. Those reports come from unnamed sources and have not been independently confirmed by Meghan or Harry.
For now, the reported compromise is straightforward: Meghan is willing to remain in Britain, but regular opportunities to return to California would make the arrangement more manageable.
With Archie and Lilibet settled into school and the holidays approaching, however, the family’s plans could soon face their biggest test yet.
Thanksgiving on November 26 and Christmas may reveal whether Harry and Meghan can find common ground between the life they are rebuilding in the UK and the California home they left behind.