Meghan Markle Is Already ‘Making Plans’ with California Friends Ahead of Holiday Return (Exclusive)

Meredith KileWed, October 14, 2026 at 1:36 PM UTC

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Meghan Markle in ‘With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration’ on NetflixCredit: Courtesy of Netflix 2025 -

Meghan Markle is settling into life in the U.K. with Prince Harry and their children, but she misses her California friends and her mother, Doria Ragland, a source tells PEOPLE

The source says Meghan is already making plans to see friends when the family returns to the U.S. for the holidays

The Duchess of Sussex is also keeping busy with her lifestyle brand As ever, which recently unveiled its first holiday collection, including an Advent calendar inspired by her Montecito home

Meghan Markle is embracing her family’s new chapter in Britain — but California is never far from her mind.

The Duchess of Sussex, 45, is settling into life in the U.K. with Prince Harry and their two children following the family’s move back to Britain in August. Still, she remains closely connected to the friends and family they left behind in California.

A source close to the couple tells PEOPLE that Meghan is “doing well” as she adjusts to life across the Atlantic, though she misses her California friends and her mother, Doria Ragland, who lives in Los Angeles.

“She’s keeping busy, as she always does, and staying in close contact with her friends in Montecito,” the source says. “She does miss home — and her mom. They’re planning to come back for the holidays. Meghan’s looking forward to seeing her friends and making plans with them already.”

Amid the major transition, the source says Meghan “has a great attitude about it all,” with her biggest priority being helping Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, adjust to their new home and school.

“The kids have adjusted well, and that’s the most important thing to her,” the source adds.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet at their Montecito, Calif. home, in a photo shared to Meghan’s Instagram pageCredit: Meghan Markle/Instagram

Meghan is also keeping busy professionally, including with her lifestyle brand As ever, which recently unveiled its first holiday collection. The festive lineup includes an Advent calendar inspired by the Sussex family’s Montecito home and garden. Created in collaboration with Los Angeles chocolatier Compartés, the keepsake calendar features illustrations inspired by the family’s property and 24 chocolates, with countdown numbers written in Meghan’s handwriting.

The collection is another connection to Meghan’s California roots, where she and Harry established their family home after stepping back from royal duties in 2020. The couple has retained their Montecito property amid their return to Britain.

That connection will extend to the upcoming holidays. PEOPLE confirmed over the weekend that Harry and Meghan plan to spend Christmas and Thanksgiving with Doria, with the location of both holiday celebrations depending on her preference.

The plans rule out a potential Christmas reunion with the royal family, who traditionally gather at King Charles’ Sandringham estate in Norfolk for the holidays, though a source recently told The Sunday Times that wasn’t a surprise to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

“They know it would be too awkward and too difficult,” the source said. “They also know they’re not going to be invited, and they’re not waiting for an invitation.”

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Harry and Meghan haven’t spent Christmas with the royal family since 2018, when they joined Queen Elizabeth, Prince William and Kate Middleton for the traditional Christmas Day church service at Sandringham. Meghan, who was pregnant with Archie at the time, was photographed walking alongside Kate as the family made their way to St. Mary Magdalene Church.

Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrive for the royal family’s traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Dec. 25, 2018Credit: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty

Less than two years later, Harry and Meghan stepped back from their roles as working royals and relocated to California, where they welcomed Lilibet in 2021.

Harry has had contact with his father, King Charles, in recent months, including an in-person meeting at Highgrove in July with Meghan and their children. However, his relationship with his older brother remains strained.

While Harry has expressed a desire to reconcile with William, those close to the family says the estrangement remains.

“There has been no movement, especially on William’s side,” a source previously told PEOPLE.

Now that they’ve settled into life back in the U.K., Harry and Meghan are turning their attention to the work and projects that matter most to them.

The couple recently announced their first official joint outing since their return, a visit to Nottingham on Thursday, Oct. 15, where they will reconnect with several causes close to their hearts.

“After they first arrived in England, their focus was on establishing a routine and getting the kids settled into school,” the source says. “Now they’re both excited to focus more on their work and the projects that matter to them.”

And while the couple looks ahead to their upcoming commitments, family time remains central to their new routine.

“During the week, while the kids are in school, they’re working,” the source tells PEOPLE. “They’re enjoying family weekends together.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”