Prince Harry continues to struggle with his new life in California, according to multiple royal experts, who say the Duke of Sussex deeply misses his former role in the British monarchy and the connections he left behind. Dan Wakeford, founder of the pop-culture newsletter Celebrity Intelligence and a veteran celebrity media editor, told Fox News Digital that sources close to Harry indicate he is not content with his current situation. “Harry particularly doesn’t love the life he has in America,” Wakeford said. “He misses his family, his friends and his former existence in the U.K.” The claims come as Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, face growing questions about the long-term viability of their media and philanthropic ventures in the United States.
Wakeford suggested that Harry would prefer a simpler lifestyle, but that Meghan’s ambitions may be driving their current trajectory. “Sources say he would be content to downsize and have a smaller life instead of living on such a grand scale, but I think that is more Meghan’s style,” he added. Archewell, the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, dismissed the claims as “unfounded speculation” and declined to comment further. Despite the reported tensions, Harry recently took a significant step toward reconnecting with his family. On July 10, Harry, Meghan, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, met with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House, Buckingham Palace confirmed. The meeting marked the first time in years that the king had hosted Harry and his family, amid a rift that began after the couple stepped back as senior royals and moved to California in 2020.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams noted that while Harry’s marriage appears happy, the duke lacks a clear role. “The problem is that Harry is without a proper role. He has the Invictus Games, yes, but I do think he misses aspects of life in the U.K. and the friends he has kept there,” Fitzwilliams said. “He has charities he supports there, and his mother is buried there. While he had a difficult week during his visit, the meeting with the king and his family was a positive.” British royal expert Hilary Fordwich observed that Harry seemed most at ease during his recent Invictus Games engagements. “Seeing the ‘good ol’ Harry’ playing wheelchair rugby with Invictus Games participants showed him grinning ear to ear. He was so happy in his element. Meeting with his father also would have reminded him of the prominent life he once led,” she said.
The couple’s financial independence, a key reason for their departure from royal duties, has also come under scrutiny. Wakeford argued that the headline figures of their media deals—$100 million from Netflix and $20 million from Spotify—obscure the real numbers. “The Netflix deal was closer to $60 million, and the Spotify deal was $5 million to exit early,” he claimed. “That’s a significant amount of money, but their costs are also extremely high, and they don’t have a sustainable business model.” He added that within five years, the Sussexes need to clarify their strategy. “They’re not bankrupt, and those headlines aren’t true. They’re not running out of money. But they do have to balance their costs against their future income.”
Harry has increasingly spoken publicly about wanting to repair his relationship with his family. In a 2025 interview with the BBC, he said he “would love reconciliation with my family” because “there’s no point in continuing to fight anymore.” He also acknowledged missing parts of the U.K., saying, “I miss parts of the U.K., of course I do. And I think that it’s really quite sad that I won’t be able to show, you know, my children.” British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that Harry’s royal connection remains central to his identity. “He misses what he knows. His titles give him status and a sense of achievement and credibility. His royal connection is everything he knows and, I’m sure, what he pines for deep down,” she said.
The couple stepped down as working royals in 2020, citing relentless intrusions by the British press and a lack of support from the palace. Tensions within the House of Windsor have remained high, especially after Harry’s bestselling 2023 memoir, “Spare,” which further strained family relations. Harry and his father met briefly for tea in September 2024 during the prince’s short visit to London, marking their first meeting in over a year. Harry has also expressed a desire for his children to spend more time with the monarch, whom they first met during celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. On Harry’s 40th birthday in 2024, royal editor Roya Nikkhah reported that the prince’s friends suggested he spent much of his time “looking back.”
