Skip to main content
Home
Explore
Notifs
Profile

Black-owned · Built for the global diaspora · Curated pins from Black and melanated creators across hair, style, beauty, home, and art.

Formerly Melaninterest.com

Get the Melanin app

Download on theApp StoreGet it onGoogle Play
m
melanin
AboutHelpTermsPrivacyCommunity GuidelinesCreators

© 2026 Melanin. All rights reserved.

Melaninmelanin
HomeExploreCreatorsNewsCreate
Ctrl+K
Log inSign up
Melaninmelanin
HomeExploreCreatorsNewsCreate
Ctrl+K
Log inSign up
Meghan Markle Set For California Return After UK Move — Melanin News | Melanin
Melaninmelanin
HomeExploreCreatorsNewsCreate
Ctrl+K
Log inSign up
All news
Meghan Markle Set For California Return After UK MoveCelebrity

Meghan Markle Set For California Return After UK Move

4d ago

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is reportedly set to make a significant return to California for the holidays, less than three months after moving her family across the Atlantic to the United Kingdom. This anticipated trip signals the Duchess's enduring connection to her former home state and her desire to reconnect with loved ones.

Reports indicate that the Duchess, aged 45, is organizing a holiday reunion with her mother, Doria Ragland, who remains in Los Angeles, and other close friends. The plans include spending both Thanksgiving and Christmas with Ragland, aged 70. The exact location for these celebrations remains flexible, with the couple reportedly willing to travel wherever Ragland feels most comfortable, making California a likely destination for their festive gatherings. This decision means the Sussexes are not expected to join King Charles III and other members of the royal family for the traditional Christmas festivities at Sandringham, a gathering they last attended in 2018.

Image related to Meghan Markle Set For California Return After UK Move
Related image from the original report Source

The family's recent relocation to Britain in late August 2026 saw Meghan, Prince Harry, 41, and their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, arrive on a private plane at Birmingham Airport. They have since settled into a private, non-royal residence located outside London. Despite this transatlantic shift, the couple is expected to maintain ownership of their Montecito, California, home, as well as a vacation property in Portugal. A new chapter also began for the children in September 2026, when Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet started attending school in Britain.

This move to the UK marked a significant turn for the family, coming six years after they stepped back as senior working royals in January 2020, a period widely known as "Megxit," and subsequently relocated to the United States. Prince Harry had previously voiced reservations about bringing his family back to the UK, citing security concerns, particularly after losing taxpayer-funded police protection in 2020 and an appeal in May 2025. In a May 2025 interview, he was quoted saying, “I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point.” However, he also expressed a profound desire for reconciliation with his family, stating, “I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious.” King Charles III, aged 77, was reportedly informed of their return on August 16, 2026, and is said to welcome the opportunity to see more of his family in a personal capacity, though their status as private individuals will not change.

Prior to their official relocation, in July 2026, Meghan, Prince Harry, and their children traveled from Portugal to Britain for a private reunion with King Charles III and Queen Camilla, 79, at Highgrove in Gloucestershire. This meeting was notable as it marked the first time the monarch had seen his daughter-in-law and grandchildren in four years. Despite the King's apparent welcome, royal author Russell Myers claimed that King Charles and Prince William are "completely united" in their stance that Harry and Meghan should not represent the royal family. On September 7, King Charles also confirmed that the couple would remain non-working members of the Royal Family.

Doria Ragland
Doria Ragland Source

Meghan Markle's deep-rooted connections to California remain a central aspect of her life. Even with her new routine in Britain, sources indicate she has maintained close contact with her circle in Montecito. A source close to the couple confirmed, "She's keeping busy, as she always does, and staying in close contact with her friends in Montecito." The source added, "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." This bond is also reflected in her professional endeavors; her lifestyle brand, "As Ever," recently launched a holiday collection that includes an Advent calendar inspired by the Sussexes' former home and garden in Montecito, featuring illustrations of the property and countdown numbers written in Meghan's own handwriting.

The decision to spend the holidays in California rather than with the royal family appears to stem from a desire to avoid potential discomfort. Sources close to the couple suggested that a royal Christmas reunion "would be too awkward and too difficult," and that "they also know they're not going to be invited, and they're not waiting for an invitation."

Public reactions to the Sussexes' return to Britain have been varied. While some social media comments expressed negative sentiments, such as "They are running away because they know they are in trouble in the states" and "Good riddance from the US! Visa issues perhaps? Money issues perhaps?", others offered a warm welcome, with one comment reading, "I think it's great news! Welcome home xx." Interestingly, Meghan Markle has also seen a recent increase in her popularity in Britain, with her net approval rating reportedly rising by 16 points from minus 43 in the second quarter of 2026 to minus 27 in the third quarter.

This holiday trip underscores the complex balance the couple navigates between their new life in the UK and their enduring personal and professional ties to California. It also comes as Meghan prepares for her first public outing in the UK in four years, a joint engagement with Prince Harry in Nottingham on October 15, 2026, which will include visits to charitable organizations. She had largely maintained a low profile since the family's August relocation, focusing on helping her children settle into their new schools. This follows an earlier period where she had not returned to the UK since 2022, when she was reportedly booed at a Platinum Jubilee church service. Prince Harry was also reportedly met with boos at a rugby match in October 2026.

The upcoming holiday season will serve as a key moment for the Sussex family as they continue to define their transatlantic lives and manage their public image, all while prioritizing family connections that span continents. The visit to California will undoubtedly be closely watched as they navigate these evolving dynamics.