Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are leaving California and returning to London after six years, enrolling their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in a British school for September. The couple plans to reside in a private residence in England for an extended period after a person with knowledge of their plans noted they had a wonderful trip overseas this summer and decided to extend their stay. They retain their California home in Montecito and another residence in Portugal, and sources insisted they have no plans to return to senior royal duties.
Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prepare Return to Britain
The move follows six turbulent years in the United States after the couple quit working for the Royal Family in 2020 and settled in Montecito, a celebrity enclave north of Los Angeles. Armed with global fame, their royal titles, and blockbuster entertainment deals, the pair launched Archewell Productions to build a commercial empire. Stacy Jones, chief executive of marketing and PR agency Hollywood Branded, noted that the couple commanded immediate attention when they arrived, stating, "They were so sought after, they were names that would hit the press and command attention right away."
Commercial Struggles and Shifting Media Deals
Despite initial high-profile backing, sustaining early investments proved challenging as the couple navigated a transformed media landscape. Their multi-year Spotify deal, reported to be worth up to $25m, produced Meghan’s 12-episode podcast Archetypes before Spotify and Archewell Audio mutually agreed to part ways in 2023. Meghan’s lifestyle business also faced hurdles, shifting from a brand unveiled in 2024 to As Ever, which sells items such as $64 scented candles.
Their major multi-year partnership with Netflix, signed in September 2020 and widely reported to be in the $100 million range, yielded mixed results. While their 2022 documentary series, Harry & Meghan, set record viewing figures for a documentary debut, other content struggled. Projects like Polo failed to make global top 10 lists, ratings for the second series of With Love, Meghan dropped off, and an animated children’s series titled Pearl was canceled before production began. Netflix eventually downgraded the overall deal to a first-look arrangement.
Family Ties and Future Outlook
For Prince Harry, the pull of returning to the UK grew stronger amid health concerns for his father, King Charles. Sources close to Harry reported that a family reunion with the King left the duke feeling buoyed, very happy, and energized, driving his desire to spend more time in the UK.
While the family is heading back across the Atlantic, their business ventures continue. Archewell Productions remains in active development on several projects at Netflix, including a feature-length adaptation of Carley Fortune’s novel Meet Me at the Lake. Additionally, Archewell’s documentary Cookie Queens achieved a certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and secured a streaming deal with a major service other than Netflix, indicating that the move to London does not mean a complete halt to their entertainment ambitions.
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