Prince Harry Shares Rare Details of His Family’s New Life in the UK as Friend Reveals New Photos

Prince Harry has offered a rare glimpse into family life in the UK, from long country walks to a surprising breakfast favorite. Meanwhile, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex's friend, has shared new photos from their reunion — including a revealing look at the children around her.

Prince Harry has given a rare glimpse into what life has been like for his family since returning to Britain, revealing a few surprisingly ordinary details about their new routine. But as he opened up about the little things that are making the UK feel like home again, photos from Meghan's recent reunion with a close friend added another layer to the family's new chapter.

Harry, 42, returned to London on Monday, September 21, for the 2026 WellChild Awards, an event that has remained an important part of his life for nearly two decades.

Harry Reveals What Family Life Looks Like Back in Britain

The Duke of Sussex has been a patron of WellChild since 2007, and the annual awards recognize young people living with serious illnesses as well as the parents, carers and nurses supporting them. Before the ceremony, Harry spent time meeting the children and families being honored.

According to HELLO!, he became visibly emotional during the evening and was deeply affected by the stories he heard. That personal connection has taken on a different meaning since he became a father himself.

Speaking exclusively to HELLO! at the WellChild Awards, Harry explained that fatherhood had changed the way he experienced his encounters with seriously ill children and their families.

"I think once you become a parent, it does change everything. It's not the fact that for all the years that I wasn't a parent that meeting the kids didn't matter as much, but you suddenly realise how grateful you are to have kids that aren't sick." He continued:

"But you find yourself going, wow, in that room with those parents, you really can't complain about anything. Of course it's all relative, but the inspiration that I get from these guys, not just the kids but the parents themselves, it fills me up for a whole year."

Archie and Lilibet Are Already Getting Involved

Harry also revealed that his children are becoming increasingly interested in his charity work. Earlier that Monday, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, had apparently woken up with what their father described as the familiar "Monday morning blues" before school.

In his exclusive interview with HELLO!, Harry said he used the opportunity to tell them about the children he would be meeting that evening. "At breakfast this morning, they had a bit of Monday morning blues," he said.

He compared the feeling to the "Sunday night blues" he remembered from before boarding school, then explained how he managed to change the mood at breakfast.

"But at breakfast this morning, I decided, 'You know what? You're being a little bit tricky, so I'm going to tell you exactly what I'm doing tonight.' And they were genuinely fascinated and asking all sorts of questions."

Harry said he and Meghan wanted their work to help their children develop a greater understanding of other people's lives. "So, like with all of my work and their mum's work as well, whatever we can do to try to instil some of that awareness, I think is absolutely crucial."

Then Harry Let Slip the Little Things Making Britain Feel Like Home

The Sussexes returned to Britain with Archie and Lilibet at the end of August, with the children starting school in the UK this month. And while much of the attention surrounding the move has focused on the bigger picture, Harry revealed that it is actually the small, unmistakably British routines that have been standing out to him.

Asked what the family had been doing since returning from California, Harry had a very simple answer. "Gone for a walk. Lots of walks. Isn't that the most British thing?" He then remembered another family milestone — one that apparently mattered considerably more to him than it might to most parents.

"OK, yes, Marmite on crumpets - please tell me that is a British thing because it has always been in my life and now the kids are eating Marmite on crumpets, which is a big moment for me."

Archie and Lilibet, it turns out, have embraced the famously divisive spread. When asked whether they actually liked Marmite, Harry replied, "They do, they do very much." There was a little family history behind that revelation, too. "They used to dis me for having Marmite in the house, but now we are in the UK, that is kind of water under the bridge."

Harry also admitted that another British staple had not received quite the same enthusiastic reception. "I already tried beans on toast. That was in California. That was years ago. It didn't go down very well at all."

The comments offer a remarkably ordinary glimpse into the Sussexes' adjustment to Britain: walks, school mornings and a Marmite breakthrough at the breakfast table.

Harry also said being back in Britain should allow him to devote more time to the charities he supports. "No longer being 5,000 miles away should make it easier to be more available to support the charities that need us, and I'm really looking forward to it."

Meghan's First California Friend Arrives in the UK

While Harry was sharing those details in London, Meghan was settling into another part of her new British routine. The visit was notable because this was the first of Meghan's California friends to visit since the Sussexes moved their family back to Britain, according to People.

On Wednesday, September 23, Meghan's longtime friend Kelly McKee Zajfen shared a series of photos from her UK visit on Instagram. The photos offered a new look at Meghan and Harry's life in the English countryside, with McKee Zajfen bringing her infant son, Jack, along for the trip.

Her caption captured the excitement of seeing her friend in her new surroundings. "Having the best time. 🤍 There's something so special about getting a taste of this magical place with my bestie, and having my sweet Jack along for the adventure."

She added, "I've loved seeing this sweet chapter through her eyes and daily adventures! Especially getting to experience so many little firsts with Jack by my side."

McKee Zajfen also wrote, "Family time is just what the heart ordered. With a side of mashed peas and fish n chips! All of it has filled my heart. 🇬🇧 You've been so good to us. We're leaving with full hearts and definitely leaving a piece of ours here. 🤍"

"To everyone we've met or bumped into, thank you for being so loving to my friend 🥹. It's been beautiful to witness. She missed you too! Cheerio!"

The Photos Put a Face to Meghan's New UK Social Circle

Among the photos was a particularly warm scene showing Meghan cuddling baby Jack during a cozy pub meal. Another showed Harry getting down on the floor to play with the baby, while a separate image featured Lilibet spending time with Jack.

The slideshow also showed Meghan with McKee Zajfen and longtime friend Marcus Anderson during a game of mahjong and glasses of wine in the backyard.

For McKee Zajfen, the trip was about much more than sightseeing. She and her husband, Julian, welcomed Jack in March, four years after the couple lost their son, George Oliver, to COVID and viral meningitis at age nine. They are also parents to George's twin sister, Lily, who is 13.

McKee Zajfen has previously spoken about the longstanding friendship she shares with Meghan. During an Instagram Story Q&A last fall, she said, "I’ve actually known her for almost 20 years?" She also recalled that Meghan attended her wedding 15 years earlier and described her friend as "the most amazing, nurturing, fun, loving human."

"She’s been by my side, especially since Georgie died, and I cherish our friendship very much," McKee Zajfen added. The visit therefore offered an unusually personal glimpse of Meghan's social life in Britain — and showed that her California friendships are continuing to follow her across the Atlantic.

But One Question About the Photos Quickly Took Over

The appearance of baby Jack and the image of Meghan cuddling him also became a talking point among some commenters. The criticism centered on the contrast between Meghan being photographed with her friend's child while she and Harry have generally kept their own children's public appearances limited.

One commenter wrote, "I guess it's OK to show other kids faces online 🤔." Another person said, "Happy to give front view of other people's children." A third commenter questioned the authenticity of the images, writing, "I doubt these are real photos, they must be AI." Someone else asked, "Who is that kid she is holding?!!!"

Another commenter referred to the family's concerns about privacy and security, writing, "So worried about security I see." And one person simply declared, "It's AI!"

The comments are reactions from social media viewers and do not establish that the images were AI-generated or that Meghan herself made the decision to publish them.

As we previously reported, the Duchess of Sussex has been settling into her own side of their new life in Britain, reconnecting with friends in the country, including Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, who also relocated from Montecito to England. And one of those reunions would soon give onlookers something else to talk about.

The 45-year-old Duchess of Sussex arrived in quietly polished separates to meet an unmistakably famous fellow American expat. Yet while the unexpected company was always going to attract attention, viewers quickly became preoccupied with what Meghan was not carrying herself.

Her Country-Pub Look Was Polished Without Trying Too Hard

Meghan wore crisp white pants with a pale blue top, rolling its sleeves neatly to her elbows for a relaxed finish. Her white sneakers kept everything practical, while oversized sunglasses provided just enough duchess-off-duty glamour.

She left her hair loose around her shoulders as she made her way through the Cotswolds setting. The outfit looked fresh, expensive and completely appropriate for an unhurried Monday lunch without screaming that it had been assembled for one.

Still, Meghan was never likely to slip into an English pub unnoticed, especially once the identity of her companion became clear.

The former "Suits" star was there with Ellen DeGeneres, while Ellen's wife, Portia de Rossi, also joined them. Suddenly, an ordinary pub visit had become a rather exclusive gathering of celebrity American expats building new lives in the English countryside.

The trio appeared absorbed in conversation at the Three Horseshoes, a pub near the picturesque market town of Burford. It was also a particularly fitting meeting because Meghan and Ellen now share more than a famous friendship: both women have traded California for the Cotswolds.

Their lunch was not some accidental celebrity collision over the menu. Meghan, Harry, Ellen and Portia have been close for years, and the Sussexes attended Ellen and Portia's surprise vow renewal in February 2023.

An insider said Meghan and Harry "had a wonderful time celebrating Portia's birthday and the couple's vow renewal," adding that all four were "close friends." A video from the intimate celebration showed Meghan and Harry smiling among the guests as Kris Jenner officiated the ceremony.

Ellen and Portia had already been married for more than 14 years at the time. Meghan looked cozy in a gray coat, while Harry wore a black blazer and white shirt without a tie. The couple stood separately as they applauded and cheered, leaving the romantic attention exactly where it belonged.

Ellen Had Her Own Dramatic Reason for Staying in England

Ellen's life in Britain began with plans for nothing more permanent than a part-time escape. She and Portia originally expected to spend only three or four months each year in the United Kingdom after buying a home in the Cotswolds. That plan changed almost overnight.

During a July 2025 appearance in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Ellen confirmed that the last US election had persuaded the couple to remain in England. "We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emoji [...]," Ellen recalled. "And we're like, 'We're staying here.'"

The former talk-show host told the audience that life "is just better" in the United Kingdom. Ellen and Portia were also considering marrying again in England.

She also addressed the toxic-workplace allegations that preceded the end of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in 2022. Ellen admitted that she could be "very blunt," but dismissed the wider coverage surrounding the controversy as "clickbait," according to the BBC.

Netizens Didn't Seem to Appreciate This Famous Outing

That history made Meghan's choice of lunch companion irresistible ammunition for critics. On Facebook, one person scoffed, "lol Ellen isn’t an a list. That is hilarious!!" Another was considerably warmer, writing, "Great to see her settling in."

Others were not feeling nearly as charitable. "One problematic celebrity hanging out with another problematic celebrity. That tracks," a commenter declared. Another added, "Associating with Ellen is like associating with Prince Andrew. Interesting move 🤔."

The criticism continued on Reddit, where one person wrote, "Not exactly the greatest people to hang out with if you don't want to be seen as a bully." Another questioned Meghan's priorities, commenting, "But didn’t show up to her husband event ? Lmao [sic]."

A third suspected there was nothing accidental about the visibility of the outing: "Such a specific place, date and time! Lmao she called Backgrid and/or People within MINUTES of this pub visit"

Yet Ellen's presence was not the only element being dissected. A small detail in the footage soon managed to compete with both women.

Meghan's Handbag Found Itself a Very Unexpected Handler

In footage from the outing, Meghan appeared to let a security guard carry her handbag while she walked nearby with her own hands free.

That accessory arrangement promptly hijacked the conversation. The Instagram comments showed absolutely no mercy. One person wrote, "FFS, can't even carry her own bag. what a joke [sic]." Another reduced the security guard's apparent role to three wonderfully cutting words: "The purse holder!"

A third asked, "Did sge make her security guard carry her purse? 😆👌🏼 [sic]" Someone else piled on, writing, "And her security guard is carrying her bag...😂 Tell me you need taxpayers security without telling me you need taxpayers security."

For some critics, the timing also appeared suspicious because Harry had an engagement of his own. "The same day that H have an event??? She never let him have the spotlight.. she always do something to steal his limelight [sic]," one commenter complained. Another kept the focus firmly on the accessory, asking, "Who is her bag-carrier? 🙄"

Meghan had only walked into a pub, yet the footage somehow produced a debate over job descriptions, security arrangements and whether carrying one's own handbag should be considered a nonnegotiable duty.

Her British Return Is Already Being Watched From Every Angle

The pub visit was not technically Meghan's first outing since the family's return, although it was the first time cameras photographed her in public.

On September 9, Page Six reported that Meghan had enjoyed tea with someone who appeared to be another mother at Soho Farmhouse, the members-only retreat in the Cotswolds. No photographs emerged from that visit.

"She seems to be starting to socialize and going out and about," a source said, explaining that "lots of the moms go to [Soho Farmhouse] to relax and unwind at the end of the week."

The 100-acre country club includes an indoor-outdoor pool, a spa and 40 guest cabins. David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, and Paul McCartney are among the celebrities known to frequent it, making the retreat a rather convenient place for famous residents hoping to unwind among people who understand famous-person problems.

And Meghan's gradual return to public life follows a much larger family decision. People revealed on August 19 that Meghan and Harry were relocating to Britain for an extended period with Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. The children began school there in September.

The family planned to establish a private, nonroyal home base outside London without purchasing a property, while retaining their residence in Montecito, California.

"Step by step, they want to be in the U.K.," a source close to Harry said. "They want to have the time and give the kids the opportunity to be here."

Their move will not restore Meghan and Harry to working-royal status. King Charles has maintained the arrangement reached after they stepped away from royal duties in 2020, leaving the couple to rebuild their lives in Britain without returning to official palace roles.

Queen Elizabeth's former press secretary Alisa Anderson predicted that the homecoming would hardly be effortless. "I don’t think they will be welcomed back with open arms," she said. "They will have to rebuild that trust and affection, with the family and the public."

Harry's lingering attachment to Britain helped drive the decision. Sources said he had struggled to establish a close social circle in California and continued to miss the friends and community he had known at home.

Meghan reportedly saw the move as an opportunity for Archie and Lilibet to experience both sides of their heritage. Her potential role in Netflix's "The Gentlemen," which films in the United Kingdom, also helped make the timing workable.

Meanwhile, Harry has professional reasons to spend more time in Britain as well, including his remaining patronages and preparations for the Invictus Games in Birmingham in July 2027.

For the Duchess of Sussex, this new English chapter has begun with private tea, a fashionable pub lunch and a distinctly celebrity-packed Cotswolds circle. However, the photographs also delivered a cheeky reminder that every element of her return will be examined.