The Duchess is reportedly looking forward to reuniting with friends and her mother in California after just weeks back in Britain – while claims of a royal Christmas row raise fresh questions about the Sussexes’ future
Meghan Markle may be adjusting to life back in the UK, but it seems her heart is still firmly connected to California.
The Duchess of Sussex, 45, is reportedly making plans to reunite with friends in Montecito when she and Prince Harry return to the US for the festive season, following the family’s move back to Britain in August.
Although Meghan is said to be settling into her new routine with Harry and their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, she is also missing the familiar faces they left behind.
A source close to the couple told People that Meghan is keeping busy while maintaining regular contact with her friends across the Atlantic.
“She does miss home — and her mom. They’re planning to come back for the holidays. Meghan’s looking forward to seeing her friends and making plans with them already,” the source said.
Meghan Markle is keeping in touch with her California friends
The move back to Britain represents a significant change for the Sussex family, who established their home in Montecito after stepping back from their roles as working royals in 2020.
Despite the relocation, the couple have retained their California property, allowing them to maintain a connection to the home where they have spent much of their life together as a family.
Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, also remains in the US, making a return visit an opportunity to spend time with family as well as friends.
According to the source, Meghan is approaching the transition positively, with the children’s adjustment to their new surroundings remaining a priority.
“The kids have adjusted well, and that’s the most important thing to her,” the source added.
Why California remains important to Meghan
Alongside settling into family life in Britain, Meghan continues to develop her business interests, including her lifestyle brand, As Ever.
The brand recently launched its first festive collection, featuring an Advent calendar inspired by the Sussexes’ former home and garden in Montecito.
Created in collaboration with Los Angeles chocolatier Compartés, the calendar contains 24 chocolates and illustrations inspired by the family’s California property, with the countdown numbers written in Meghan’s handwriting.
The collection reflects the continuing influence of California on Meghan’s lifestyle brand, even as her family establishes a new routine in the UK.
Will Meghan and Harry spend Christmas with the royal family?
The reported plans to return to California also raise questions about whether Harry and Meghan will reunite with the royal family over Christmas.
The couple are expected to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with Meghan’s mother, although the precise location of the celebrations has reportedly yet to be decided.
Such plans would mean they are unlikely to join King Charles and other members of the royal family at Sandringham, where the Windsors traditionally gather for Christmas.
Harry and Meghan have not spent Christmas with the royal family since 2018, before they stepped back from their official duties and subsequently moved to the US.
Relations between Harry and his brother, Prince William, also remain strained. While Harry has previously expressed a desire for reconciliation, there has been little public indication of a breakthrough.
A source previously told People: “There has been no movement, especially on William’s side.”
The Sussexes turn their attention to work in Britain
With the family now settling into life in the UK, Harry and Meghan are also looking ahead to their professional commitments.
The couple announced a joint visit to Nottingham on 15 October, marking their first official joint outing since returning to Britain.
The engagement will give them an opportunity to reconnect with causes they have supported, as they begin to focus more fully on their work following the initial upheaval of the move.
According to the source, establishing a routine and helping Archie and Lilibet settle into school had been the family’s immediate priority.
Now, with that adjustment reportedly going well, the couple are looking forward to pursuing their projects while making time for one another.
“During the week, while the kids are in school, they’re working,” the source said. “They’re enjoying family weekends together.”
For Meghan, a return to California over the holidays would offer a chance to reconnect with the friends and family who remain an important part of her life, even as the Sussexes embrace their next chapter in Britain.
