Meghan Markle has been spotted in the UK for the first time since relocating from California with Prince Harry.
The Duchess of Sussex, 45, was seen having tea with what appeared to be another mother at Soho Farmhouse, the members-only retreat in the Cotswolds, on Friday, according to a source familiar with the outing. “She seems to be starting to socialize and going out and about,” the source shared, adding that “lots of the moms go to [Soho Farmhouse] to relax and unwind at the end of the week.”
The 100-acre countryside club features a spa, 40 guest cabins and an indoor-outdoor pool, and regularly draws celebrity members including David Beckham, Victoria Beckham and Paul McCartney. Markle’s appearance at the exclusive hotspot has intensified speculation that she and Harry, 41, are actively searching for a permanent home in the posh rural region.
That theory gained traction last month when royal commentator Tom Sykes exclusively revealed that a friend of Harry’s had tipped him off earlier this year about potential house hunting plans. “I was told by a friend of Harry’s earlier this year that he was going to go house hunting and potentially in the Cotswolds near [King Charles and Queen Camilla’s] Highgrove [House residence],” Sykes said. “Obviously, that’s where he grew up, living with his father and brother there, and has happy memories,” he continued.
The Sussexes arrived in England with their two children — Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5 — approximately two weeks ago. News first broke in August that the family would be leaving their Montecito, California home of six years for Harry’s homeland. Their children’s schooling has already become a focal point of interest, with reports indicating the youngsters will attend an elite preparatory school costing roughly $35,000 annually.
Last week, a school in the area issued a cautionary message to parents about heightened media attention, warning them “not to photograph or film other children without permission, or share photographs, information or details about pupils or their families on social media,” according to royal commentator Kinsey Schofield. However, that notice did not originate from the school Archie and Lilibet will ultimately attend, as the couple reportedly “approached multiple” institutions before making their final selection, which the outlet has declined to name for privacy reasons.
Harry himself surfaced publicly for the first time since the move in a photograph taken Monday at Tower Bridge Studios in London. That same day, his father King Charles, 77, released a statement clarifying that Harry and Markle remain non-working royals — a move that publicly reignited the family’s ongoing tensions.
The young royals have not been photographed since the relocation. Markle’s representative has not responded to requests for comment regarding her Cotswolds outing or the family’s housing plans.
The timing of Charles’s statement, coinciding with Harry’s first visible UK appearance, underscored the delicate balance the palace is attempting to strike as the Sussexes reestablish their presence on British soil. Royal observers have noted that the family’s return comes amid persistent reports of strained relations between Harry and his brother Prince William, as well as ongoing negotiations about security arrangements and public roles.
Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal duties in 2020 and subsequent relocation to California marked a dramatic rupture with the institution, followed by a series of public revelations including their Netflix documentary series and Harry’s memoir “Spare.” Their current move back to the UK, while not restoring their official status, represents a significant geographical and potentially symbolic shift after six years based in the United States.
The Sussexes are expected to continue settling into their new arrangements as attention focuses on where they will ultimately establish their British base.