Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly facing unexpected challenges as they try to rebuild their social circle after returning to the UK. According to royal commentator Tom Sykes, the couple now spend most of their time with just two close friends. Reports state that those two friends are former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi.
According to The Royalist, Sykes claimed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are lonely after moving to the Cotswolds and experiencing a shrinking social circle. Citing a source close to the couple, the royal reporter stated that DeGeneres and de Rossi are currently their only regular companions. “A friend of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has basically told me that their only friends and the only people they see are Ellen and Portia,” Sykes said during a live video on his Royalist Substack.
These claims follow a reported late September lunch outing at the Three Horseshoes pub in Oxfordshire involving Meghan Markle, DeGeneres, and de Rossi. The celebrity couple previously remained an important part of the social circle around Prince Harry and his wife during their time in Montecito, California. After moving to the Cotswolds in November 2024, DeGeneres and de Rossi quickly reconnected with the Sussexes.
Sykes also suggested that the social circle surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has shrunk significantly since stepping back from royal duties in 2020. He noted that former acquaintances were surprised by what they viewed as the Duke’s growing distance from his previous friends. “They describe this man who was very beloved, had all these friends, but today seems to be very very lonely and very very cut off,” Sykes said.
Furthermore, the commentator claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made little effort to expand their social circle in the area. He alleged that the couple have done little to get to know their neighbors in the Cotswolds. Sykes also stated that they have yet to connect with the parents of their children’s schoolmates.
Concerns about privacy and security have reportedly contributed to this shrinking social circle by keeping Prince Harry and Meghan Markle away from public gatherings. “They're not going out, they're afraid to go out. They're hugely paranoid about security,” Sykes said. Those ongoing worries have allegedly kept the couple largely behind closed doors.
Despite claims about their shrinking social circle, the report acknowledged that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not entirely isolated from past connections. Notably, the Duke of Sussex remains in contact with some longtime friends, including Arthur Landon.
Even so, royal watchers continue to follow how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle adjust to their quieter routine in the UK. Whether the couple eventually widen their social circle beyond DeGeneres and de Rossi remains to be seen.
Key Takeaways:
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly dealing with a shrinking social circle after relocating to the Cotswolds in the UK.
- Royal commentator Tom Sykes claims that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle currently rely on just two close friends in their local social circle: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi.
- While strict security concerns have reportedly limited their social circle, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle still maintain ties with longtime pals like Arthur Landon.
