Meghan Markle Spotted in London for First Time Since UK Move
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was seen in London this week for the first time since she, Prince Harry, and their two children relocated from California to the United Kingdom in late August. The Duchess was photographed dining at Claridge's, the historic Mayfair hotel, with activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. According to ABC News, the two are friends and met for tea.
The sighting marks Meghan's most public appearance since the family's transatlantic move, which was confirmed in August. The Sussexes had spent the previous several years living in Montecito, California, after stepping back from senior royal duties in 2020. Their return to the UK has been described as an effort to build a new personal and family chapter, though they remain private citizens and non-working members of the royal family, according to King Charles III.
A Culinary Moment With Princess Lilibet
In a separate development, Meghan offered a rare glimpse into her family life at home. On Tuesday, she shared an Instagram video celebrating the holiday collection of her lifestyle brand, As Ever. The clip features Meghan and her five-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet, making raspberry jam in their kitchen. "What do you think, Lily?" Meghan asks in the video. "I think it's beautiful," the young princess replies.
Meghan also reflected on her entrepreneurial journey, from sewing scrunchies as a child to launching her own brand in 2025. "My entrepreneurial spirit was always there," she wrote in the caption, thanking her As Ever team for their work on the new collection.
Context: A New Chapter in the UK
The Sussexes' move back to the UK has been closely watched, given the couple's strained relationship with the royal family. While Harry has made several public appearances—including attending a rugby match with a cousin and speaking at the 2026 WellChild Awards—Meghan has largely stayed out of the public eye, focusing on As Ever and private family life.
Meghan's London outing with Yousafzai is not their first collaboration; the two have known each other for years and shared a virtual discussion on the International Day of the Girl in 2020. The Duchess has also been pictured enjoying quieter moments, such as a pub lunch with Harry near their non-royal residence in the Cotswolds.
Christmas Plans Revealed
Despite the return to Harry's home country, reports suggest the Sussexes are already planning to spend the holiday season back in California with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland. According to The Times, the couple have privately acknowledged they will not be invited to celebrate Christmas with the royal family, knowing it "would be awkward."
"How could that even work? They know it would be too awkward and too difficult. They also know they're not going to be invited, and they're not waiting for an invitation," a source told The Times. Instead, the Duke and Duchess will "do whatever Doria wants to do" for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
HELLO!'s royal editor Emily Nash echoed this sentiment on the Right Royal Podcast, saying she would be "very surprised" if the Sussexes remained in the UK for Christmas. The logistics remain unclear, as Doria Ragland continues to live in California and the couple's two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, are expected to be in school during the week of Thanksgiving.
The reports come amid confirmation that Harry has still not seen his father, King Charles III, in person since returning to the UK, though the two did speak by telephone during Harry's first week back.
Perspective: A Royal Family Still Divided?
The Sussexes' first months back in the UK have highlighted the delicate balance they must strike: re-establishing a life in Britain while navigating a fractured relationship with the monarchy. Meghan's decision to remain largely out of the public eye suggests a strategic retreat from royal duties, focusing instead on her business ventures and family.
Meanwhile, the Christmas plans underscore the ongoing distance between the Sussexes and the royal family. While Harry has made efforts to reconnect with his father, the absence of a personal meeting months after his return indicates that reconciliation remains a work in progress.
As the holiday season approaches, all eyes will be on whether the Sussexes return to California—and what that might signal about their long-term intentions in the UK. For now, Meghan appears to be carving out a new identity: entrepreneur, mother, and occasional London socialite, but still very much on the periphery of royal life.
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