Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Style At Large
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Sézane's Next Act
    • Postpartum Texts
    • Pre-Fall Outfits
    • New Beauty Launches
    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Are Pursuing an "English Countryside Dream," but They've Not Said "Goodbye Forever" to California, Per Royal Sources

    "They've been planning this for some time...but that doesn't mean leaving was easy."

    Amy Mackelden's avatar
    By Amy Mackelden
    Published 29 August 2026 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Meghan Markle wears a white jacket and smiles and has long black hair
    (Image credit: Getty Images/Samir Hussein/WireImage)
    Jump to category:
    • Shop Royal Family Books
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have officially left their Montecito, California home to move to the U.K. with their two children—Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. According to royal sources, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex haven't cut all ties in the U.S., but they're excited about multiple aspects of their U.K. move.

    As reported by People, Meghan and Harry "left California" on Tuesday, August 25, and traveled "by private jet to England with their children...and their dogs, Pula and Mia."

    One source 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."

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    The source continued, "It wasn't a goodbye forever. It was much more, 'We'll be back, but this is what we're doing right now.'"

    Basically, leaving Montecito was likely an extremely emotional affair for Meghan and Harry.

    You may like
    • Prince Harry and Meghan Markle holding hands walking 7 Reasons Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are Moving to the U.K.
    • Meghan Markle holding Prince Harry's arm wearing LA Dodgers hats Meghan Markle “Is Taking One for the Team” For Prince Harry By Moving to Britain
    • Meghan Markle linking arms with Prince Harry Harry and Meghan's Friend Says Their Move "Is Not Sudden"

    Prince Harry wears sneakers with an all-black outfit, Meghan Markle wears a denim dress and black pumps

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have moved to the U.K. with their two children.

    (Image credit:  Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation)

    The source also shared, "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."

    The decision to move to England was probably quite difficult for the Duchess of Sussex, as she was raised in California.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    "Meghan really loves their life in Montecito and their home there," the source told People. "There's excitement about what's ahead too, especially for the kids. They're really happy for them and for everything they'll get to experience."

    According to the Daily Mail, Meghan and Harry are particularly excited about building a new home together in England.

    "They have an English countryside dream," one royal source told the publication. "This will be the first time that Harry has lived in the U.K. as a private citizen where no one can demand any access to him."

    Prince Harry hugging Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet holding hands with Meghan Markle on a bridge over a stream

    Prince Harry, Prince Archie, Princess Lilibet, and Duchess Meghan at their Montecito home.

    (Image credit: Meghan/Instagram)

    As Meghan and Harry aren't senior working royals, they'll be entitled to privacy and won't be required to take part in official duties.

    "Now [Harry] is going to have a chance to enjoy all of the things he loves about the country, but as a private citizen," a source explained. "They will have more freedom now."

    Shop Royal Family Books

    Harry & Meghan - the Love Story

    John Blake
    Harry & Meghan: The Love Story
    $8
    SHOP NOW

    Harry and Meghan

    Perseus Acquired
    Harry and Meghan
    $18
    SHOP NOW

    Meghan and Harry

    Pegasus Books
    Meghan and Harry
    $13
    SHOP NOW

    Finding Freedom

    Dey Street Books
    Finding Freedom
    $18
    SHOP NOW

    Brothers and Wives

    Gallery Books
    Brothers and Wives
    $18
    SHOP NOW

    Royal Couples: Harry and Meghan Markle, William and Kate Middleton, and Charles and Diana

    New York Times Educational Publishing
    Royal Couples
    $28
    SHOP NOW

    Explore More
    Meghan Markle Prince Harry
    Amy Mackelden
    Amy Mackelden
    Social Links Navigation
    Weekend Editor

    Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.

    Read more
    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle holding hands walking
    Royals 7 Reasons Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are Moving to the U.K.
    By Kristin Contino
    Meghan Markle holding Prince Harry's arm wearing LA Dodgers hats
    Royals Meghan Markle “Is Taking One for the Team” For Prince Harry By Moving to Britain
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Meghan Markle linking arms with Prince Harry
    Royals Harry and Meghan's Friend Says Their Move "Is Not Sudden"
    By Kristin Contino
    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sitting next to each other in black outfits
    Royals Harry and Meghan's U.K. Move Suggests "Half-in, Half-Out" Life
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Latest in Royals
    Queen Mette-Marit wearing a red hat
    Royals Meet Norway's Controversial New Queen Mette-Marit
    Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Martha Louise walking in black outfits
    Royals Why Princess Märtha Louise Isn't the New Queen of Norway
     
     
    A flag flying at half mast at Buckingham Palace
    Royals Buckingham Palace Flag Is Flying at Half-Staff as King Charles Shares Family Loss
    Prince Harry smiling in front of a step and repeat
    Royals Prince Harry’s Cousin Shares Thoughts on His “Exciting” Return to Britain
     
     
    Latest in News
    Alex Consani at Pandora Talisman launch party.
    Fashion Alex Consani’s Fashion Philosophy Is Very Leo-Coded
    Lili Reinhart started her 'Love Hypothesis' press tour in the perfect pink cardigan for fall
    Celebrity Style Lili Reinhart's Fall Cardigan Is for Fans of 'The Love Hypothesis'
     
     
    Queen Mette-Marit wearing a red hat
    Royals Meet Norway's Controversial New Queen Mette-Marit
    Serena Williams attended a 2026 US Open event in the cobalt blue color trend and Nike sneakers
    Celebrity Style Serena Williams Is Still Serving Cobalt Blue Grand Slams—On and Off the Court
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.