Prince Harry Was Reportedly ‘Homesick’ Soon After Leaving Royal Life With Meghan Markle

Prince Harry was reportedly struggling with homesickness only weeks after he and Meghan Markle began stepping away from royal life, with an insider claiming that the Duke of Sussex missed his friends, family and the familiar routines he had left behind in Britain.

The comments, originally shared with Radar in 2020, have resurfaced following Harry and Meghan’s return to the U.K. with their children in August 2026 after six years in California. The couple are not returning as working royals, but their move has renewed interest in Harry’s complicated transition away from his former life.

Harry and Meghan first spent several weeks in Canada with their son, Prince Archie, in late 2019. They briefly returned to England in January 2020 before heading back to Vancouver after announcing plans to step back as senior members of the Royal Family.

In their January 2020 statement, the couple said they wanted to develop a more independent role while becoming financially self-sufficient and continuing to support Queen Elizabeth II.

Yet according to the source cited by Radar at the time, the reality of leaving Britain was more difficult for Harry than he had anticipated.

Harry Reportedly Missed His Friends and Family

The insider said Harry was already missing his previous life after only a few weeks away.

The adjustment reportedly went beyond the everyday comforts of home. The source specifically pointed to Harry’s friendships and family relationships, as well as the familiar social environment he had known in England.

Harry tried to maintain contact with friends through WhatsApp, but the source claimed that staying connected from a distance was difficult.

The insider described the move as a major adjustment for Harry, saying that leaving behind his established life and the things he enjoyed had been more of a shock than he expected.

The comments were made while Harry and Meghan were still in the early stages of establishing a new life outside the royal system. They would eventually leave Canada for the United States, settling in California later in 2020.

Building a New Life in California

Harry and Meghan went on to purchase a $14 million mansion in Montecito in 2020 and began building their lives in the United States.

The couple also pursued a series of commercial and entertainment opportunities following their departure from royal duties. Their early deals included major agreements with companies such as Spotify and Netflix.

Some of those arrangements later changed.

Harry and Meghan’s partnership with Spotify ended by mutual agreement in 2023 after producing Meghan’s podcast, Archetypes.

Their relationship with Netflix has also evolved. Netflix later ended its partnership with Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, while maintaining a reduced first-look arrangement with the Sussexes.

The family’s life in California also became the setting for Meghan’s next phase as a lifestyle personality and entrepreneur.

Meghan’s Lifestyle Projects Take a New Direction

Meghan moved into lifestyle programming with With Love, Meghan, a Netflix series centered on cooking, entertaining, gardening and crafts.

The show returned for a second season in August 2025, followed by a holiday special in December. Netflix’s official material confirms the second season and the holiday installment.

The series did not continue into a third season. Reports in January 2026 said Netflix had canceled the series after two seasons, although discussions about possible future holiday specials had taken place.

Meghan also developed her lifestyle business. What began as American Riviera Orchard was renamed As Ever in 2025 after trademark difficulties surrounding the original name.

The rebrand gave Meghan a broader name for the business, which was tied to her interests in food, gardening, entertaining and home life.

Harry and Meghan Return to Britain

After spending six years in California, Harry and Meghan made a surprise return to Britain with Archie and their daughter, Princess Lilibet, in August 2026.

Reuters reported that the family planned an extended stay in Britain, with Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, expected to attend school there. The family retained its California home and did not resume royal duties.

The family subsequently arrived in the U.K. on August 26, with reports saying they landed at Birmingham Airport.

The move represents a notable change from the life Harry and Meghan established after their departure from royal duties. They remain non-working members of the Royal Family rather than returning to official royal roles.

Harry has already made his first public appearances in Britain since the move. On September 17, 2026, he attended the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards in London, marking his return to public engagements on British soil. Reuters reported that he spoke positively about being back in Britain.

The family’s return has therefore brought the story full circle in an unexpected way. In early 2020, Harry was reportedly struggling with the distance from the life and relationships he had known in Britain. Six years later, he and Meghan have once again made Britain part of their family’s day-to-day life, while continuing to maintain their home and connections in California.

The move does not represent a return to royal duties. Instead, it marks another significant chapter in the Sussexes’ life after stepping away from the institution in 2020.