The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, left the UK after stepping down from their official royal duties. Since then, they have pursued various business ventures, including Meghan’s lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.
Harry and Meghan, who met in 2016 and married in 2018, stepped down as senior royals in January 2020, citing frustration over media scrutiny and restrictions from Buckingham Palace regarding their “SussexRoyal” brand. Despite stepping down, Harry remains a prince and is fifth in line to the throne. The couple retained their Duke and Duchess titles but no longer use “His” or “Her Royal Highness” (HRH) and Harry gave up his military titles. When King Charles ascended to the throne, their children became Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
In June 2020, the couple moved to California to focus on raising their family, welcoming their second child, Lilibet, in 2021. In early 2023, they were asked to vacate Frogmore Cottage, their UK residence on the Windsor estate. By June 2023, Harry’s official residence was listed as the US, marking the couple’s formal departure from Frogmore. Meanwhile, a conservative US think tank, The Heritage Foundation, has raised concerns about Harry’s immigration status due to his past admissions of drug use, but a US judge ruled in September that his visa application would remain private.
There have been reports suggesting that Harry might be considering a gradual return to the UK, though he continues to be primarily based in the US due to security concerns. Harry returned to the UK for family and public events, such as his uncle Lord Robert Fellowes’ memorial service in August, but he and his brother William reportedly did not interact. In May, he marked the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games in London without meeting his father or brother. Harry also returned to London for various legal proceedings against British newspapers and attended King Charles’ coronation in May 2023 without Meghan.
As working royals, the couple’s income primarily came from Harry’s father, the then Prince of Wales, and public funding. When they stepped back from royal duties, Charles provided them with financial support to help them transition. Since then, Harry and Meghan have launched the Archewell foundation and established several commercial partnerships. In early 2024, they launched the Sussex.com website, which highlights their work in business and philanthropy. Meghan’s lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, also launched in March 2024, though details remain scarce. Archewell Productions, their media company, continues to produce content for Netflix, including a series about cooking, gardening, and polo, with a new show set to air in December.
Previously, the couple shared their experiences in the Harry and Meghan documentary and discussed Harry’s emotional struggles post-military service in The Heart of Invictus series.
