Though they’ve made a life thousands of miles away in sunny California, it seems Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may not have entirely left Britain behind. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who moved to Montecito in 2020, have built a new life far from the pressures of royal life, yet subtle hints suggest the UK still holds a special place in their hearts.
Since stepping back from their roles as working royals, Harry and Meghan have lived a very different life than the one they knew in England. Their old home at Frogmore Cottage is now a memory, and they’ve immersed themselves in their ventures across the Atlantic. Meghan, for her part, hasn’t returned to the UK since attending the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022, while Harry has only traveled back occasionally for family events, including Prince Philip’s funeral and visits to King Charles after his cancer diagnosis.
Despite her American roots, Meghan’s ties to British culture have proven surprisingly enduring. Last week, the Duchess premiered the second season of her lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, where celebrity guests like Chrissy Teigen and Queer Eye’s Tan France joined her for intimate chats and cooking segments. It was here that Meghan revealed glimpses of what she still cherishes about life in the UK.
Nostalgia for British Life Pops Up in Everyday Moments
Viewers were struck by Meghan’s affection for British radio. In one episode, she told Tan France that she missed listening to UK stations, especially Magic FM, despite being teased that it was a “grandma” station. Meghan laughed it off, explaining that her current favorite in California was a soft rock station called Mom Jeans—but the wistful tone suggested that a part of her still longs for her old routines.
Food, too, appears to connect Meghan to her time in the UK. In episode four, she showed chef Samin Nosrat how she makes her signature roast chicken—a recipe she first prepared for Harry on the night they got engaged. “This is a by-heart recipe,” she said, reflecting on the many times she’s cooked it. The dish, a classic British Sunday roast, now features regularly in her California kitchen. Fans of the show also noted the English undertones in her other recipes and products from her lifestyle brand, As Ever. Her shortbread cookie mix, complete with flower sprinkles, and her preserves evoke flavors that remind her of England.
Meghan’s nods to British traditions extend beyond the kitchen. She celebrated Mother’s Day according to the UK calendar in March, sharing an Instagram post of a lemon tart that had become a family tradition. The caption emphasized cozy mornings and simple pleasures, a quiet homage to the “duvet day” concept she loves from her time in Britain. Small moments like these reveal that, even amid a bustling California lifestyle, Meghan’s memories of England remain vivid.
Childhood Ties and Language at Home
Family life in the US also reflects a blend of British and American influences. Meghan shared that her children, Archie, six, and Lilibet, mix pronunciations from both countries. “They’ll say a little bit of both, but never cooking terms,” she laughed, noting that some words, like “zebra,” retain the British pronunciation. This attention to heritage, subtle as it may be, hints at a desire to keep the children connected to Harry’s homeland.
Harry, meanwhile, has expressed similar feelings. In a candid BBC interview last May, he spoke openly about missing the UK and the sadness of not being able to share his homeland with his children. “I love my country and always have… despite what some people in that country have done,” he said. Yet, he also admitted that returning permanently isn’t realistic due to safety concerns and the loss of his official security detail, which forced him into a £1.5million legal battle.
Public Memories and Personal Snapshots
Meghan’s social media offers further clues. A montage of pictures from their life in Britain, including a selfie from 2016 when they first started dating in London and snapshots from their 2018 wedding at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, paint a picture of nostalgia and fondness. Even Frogmore Cottage makes an appearance—a glimpse into their previous home, where the couple shared intimate moments.
There’s also evidence of leisure memories tied to British landscapes. One photo shows the couple at Holkham Bay in Norfolk, a beach beloved by Prince William and Princess Catherine. Such images hint at longing for familiar settings, where Harry spent formative years surrounded by family and friends.
Challenges, Family Rift, and Safety Concerns
While there is nostalgia, the reality of returning is complicated. Harry has voiced concern over safety for Meghan and their children. After the Queen’s passing in 2022, he flew alone to Balmoral, while Meghan stayed in Windsor at King Charles’ request. This period marked another layer of tension in the family dynamic, with Harry later revealing a strained relationship with his father and a desire for reconciliation.
Sources close to the couple have also indicated that Harry occasionally feels homesick. Royal expert Tom Quinn told The Mirror that Harry is “increasingly bored” in the US and misses connections with childhood friends in Britain—though Meghan’s difficult reputation among some of his peers complicates matters. Even King Charles’ former butler, Grant Harrold, suggested the couple considered buying a home in the UK, planning to split their time between the US and Britain, though a permanent move seemed unlikely.
Friends and insiders echo similar sentiments. One of Harry’s oldest companions described him as an “angry boy” who regrets how events unfolded and longs for admiration at home. There’s a palpable sense of tension between Harry’s love for his country and the realities of his public life, a struggle mirrored in Meghan’s quiet gestures of remembrance.
A Glimpse into a Possible Future
Despite the obstacles, the signs of longing are hard to ignore. Whether it’s a roast chicken on a Sunday, a cup of tea, or a shortbread cookie with tiny flower sprinkles, Meghan’s life in California is punctuated with reminders of her time in Britain. Harry, too, keeps his homeland close in heart, though he acknowledges that security and family tensions make a full return impossible—for now.
For the public, these glimpses spark fascination and speculation. Fans debate whether the Sussexes will ever come back permanently or maintain a transatlantic existence. Either way, their story highlights the tension of living between two worlds: one of royal tradition and public scrutiny, and another of private family life and newfound independence.
The Sussexes’ narrative resonates because it’s deeply human—desire, nostalgia, and the pull of home are universal, even for a couple once at the very heart of the British monarchy. While California may be their present, it seems the UK still shapes their daily lives in subtle, heartfelt ways. And though a permanent return might not be imminent, every recipe, radio station, and social media post keeps the dream of Britain alive in the minds of Harry, Meghan, and their children.
