Image Courtesy: Jonathan Brady / POOL / AFP
The family arrived on August 26 and is establishing a private, non-royal base in Britain, while the children have started the British school year. The couple bought the property for about $14.65 million (estimated to ₹108.61 crore in 2020) in an off-market deal. The roughly 14,500-square-foot main residence has nine bedrooms, while the estate also includes a two-bedroom guesthouse and a separate tea house.
Because the California estate has been the family’s main home since 2020, that matters. There is currently no reported plan to sell the Sussexes’ Montecito property.
So, despite the headlines describing a “move back”, this looks more like an extended relocation to Britain than a complete departure from America. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have returned to Britain with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet after nearly six years in the US. But the move does not mean the Sussexes are giving up their California life. Their Montecito house is reportedly being retained, leaving the family with homes on both sides of the Atlantic. The estate sits on several acres in Montecito, a wealthy community near Santa Barbara known for privacy and celebrity residents. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s home in America (Image credit: SANATABARBARASLUXURYHOMES.COM) The property is considerably more than a large celebrity house. There is a swimming pool, tennis court, gym, home theatre, games room, spa facilities and five-car garage. The grounds also feature gardens and outdoor entertaining areas. The setting may be just as important as the house itself. The property is gated and surrounded by greenery, offering the kind of privacy the Sussexes have repeatedly sought.
The Sussexes’ return is also different from their 2020 departure. Earlier reporting noted: Meghan Markle’s new UK family life: 7 simple lifestyle changes the Sussexes may be embracing after leaving California Meghan Markle’s new UK family life (Image: https://www.instagram.com/meghan/) Earlier reporting noted: A puddle, a bicycle and a fishing rod are unlikely symbols of a royal family’s new chapter. In a 34-second video shared on September 13, Meghan offered a rare glimpse of life with Prince Harry, Archie and Lilibet in Britain, showing the family outdoors, Lilibet riding a bicycle and Harry spending time with the children. Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, have also begun school in the UK after the family returned from California.
Because she wanted to protect family time there, she also chose not to film With Love, Meghan inside the actual property. The Montecito mansion, therefore, is not an abandoned chapter.
In an interview with The Cut, she described walking into the house as bringing a feeling of “joy”, calm and freedom. That decision says something interesting about the house. For all its size and luxury, its value to the family appears to be less about showing it off and more about keeping part of their lives away from cameras. For now, the most likely answer is simple: it remains the Sussexes’ American home. The family is also reportedly retaining its Portugal property. Harry continues to have US commitments, while Meghan’s commercial work remains connected to America. That makes the Montecito estate useful even while the family spends an extended period in Britain. It can remain a private retreat, a US base and potentially a future family home. They are not returning as working royals. King Charles has reaffirmed that they remain non-working members of the Royal Family and private citizens. In practical terms, the family now appears to have built something closer to a two-country lifestyle: Britain for family roots and the children’s schooling, California for the home they spent years creating. It may simply become the quieter American half of the Sussexes’ increasingly divided life. Disclaimer: Property details and the Sussexes’ current housing arrangements are based on published reports and publicly available records. Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day. Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app. Yet that is exactly what Meghan Markle has chosen to show. The family’s British routine could mean different weather, different school rhythms, more countryside and a renewed connection to Harry’s home country.
Meghan has previously described the Montecito home as a place where the family can switch off from public life. Earlier reporting noted: After nearly six years in Montecito, the change is more than a new address.