Prince Harry’s reported decision with Meghan Markle to spend more time in the UK has drawn fresh attention, with one of the Duke’s longtime friends offering insight into what may be behind the couple’s plans.
Journalist and broadcaster Bryony Gordon, who has maintained a close friendship with Prince Harry for years, recently discussed the Sussexes’ reported plans while appearing on This Morning. Her comments suggested that the couple may be looking at a more international lifestyle rather than completely leaving their California home behind.
“What I understand is that they have decided to be more of an international family,” Gordon said while discussing the couple’s situation.
According to comments reported by HELLO!, Gordon also stressed that California is unlikely to disappear from Harry and Meghan’s lives. She has previously visited the couple’s Montecito home and described it positively, suggesting that their US residence could continue to serve as a private retreat.
“California is lovely. I've been to their house in Montecito. It's gorgeous,” Gordon reportedly said, adding that the couple were not planning to give up the property.
Her comments also pointed to the practical reality of living thousands of miles away from Harry’s British relatives. While California may offer the Sussexes privacy and a settled family life, Gordon suggested that the distance can make regular contact with relatives in the UK more difficult.
That issue may have become particularly significant following Harry and Meghan’s recent visit to Britain with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Gordon reflected on the family’s time at Althorp, the Northamptonshire estate associated with Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana. She said the visit with Harry’s uncle, Charles Spencer, appeared to be a positive experience for the family.
“When they came in July, they had a really lovely time at Althorp… with his uncle, Earl Spencer,” Gordon said, according to the report.
She suggested that the experience may have reinforced Harry and Meghan’s desire to maintain stronger connections with family members in Britain.
“I think that was really lovely, and I think the kids really loved it, and I think they want to be closer to that,” she added.
For Prince Harry, the question of family ties has remained an important part of his public story since his move away from royal duties and relocation to the United States with Meghan. His relationship with members of the Royal Family has frequently attracted intense media attention, particularly following the couple’s decision to step back as working royals in 2020.
Gordon’s perspective is also notable because her relationship with Harry goes beyond occasional media appearances. The journalist has previously written about their friendship and described it as a long-running working relationship connected to their shared interest in mental health.
She has also interviewed Harry for her own platform, while the Duke appeared on her Mad Girl podcast in 2017.
That history gives Gordon a distinctive perspective when discussing Harry, although her comments should still be understood as her own observations rather than an official statement from the Sussexes.
The idea of becoming an “international family” could therefore represent a compromise between Harry and Meghan’s established life in California and Harry’s continuing links to Britain. Rather than abandoning Montecito, the couple could potentially maintain their American base while spending more time in the UK and elsewhere.
For their children, such an arrangement could also mean greater opportunities to build relationships with relatives on Harry’s side of the family. Their recent UK visits have already demonstrated that family connections remain a subject of interest surrounding the Sussexes.
Ultimately, Harry and Meghan’s long-term plans remain a matter for the couple themselves to confirm. Gordon’s remarks offer an interesting glimpse into how someone familiar with Harry views the reported change, but they do not establish a definitive timetable or permanent relocation plan.
For now, the possibility of the Sussexes becoming a more internationally based family appears to leave the door open to both worlds: their established life in California and a potentially stronger presence in Britain.
Key Takeaways
- Bryony Gordon has commented publicly on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s reported plans to spend more time in the UK.
- She described the couple as potentially becoming “more of an international family.”
- Gordon indicated that their Montecito home is unlikely to be abandoned.
- Harry’s recent family visit to Althorp was highlighted as a potentially meaningful experience.
- Gordon has a longstanding friendship and professional connection with Prince Harry.
- Harry previously appeared on Gordon’s Mad Girl podcast and gave her an interview.
- The Sussexes’ exact long-term living arrangements have not been formally confirmed by the couple.
