Six years. That is how long it has been since Prince Harry swapped the gray skies of London for the manicured lawns of Montecito. On the surface, the transition looks like a win. He has the sun, he has the privacy, and he has a life away from the "goldfish bowl" he spent thirty years trying to escape. But lately, the narrative is shifting. New reports suggest that Prince Harry reportedly misses his royal life, and not just the fancy parts.
It is the structure. The duty. The sense of being part of something larger than a Netflix production schedule.
Royal biographer Christopher Andersen recently told Us Weekly that the Duke is essentially "torn." He is happy in California as a dad, sure, but he is also an army officer at his core. For a man raised on military precision and constitutional duty, the lack of a "permanent position" in the U.S. might be starting to grate.
The "Military Gap" and the Pain of Lost Titles
When Harry and Meghan stepped back in 2020, they lost a lot more than just their HRH titles. They lost their roles as working royals, which meant Harry was stripped of his honorary military appointments. For most people, a title is just a line on a resume. For Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan, it was his identity.
Insiders say the loss of those ties remains one of the most "painful" parts of his exit. Honestly, you can see it in how he clings to the Invictus Games. It is the one place where he still feels like "Captain Wales" rather than just another celebrity in a polo shirt.
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But a few weeks of Invictus every couple of years doesn't fill a daily calendar.
In the U.K., his life was mapped out months in advance. There were hospitals to open, veterans to meet, and ceremonies that required him to show up and be a symbol. In Montecito? He is reportedly the "hands-on dad" while Meghan handles the "breadwinner" duties with her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, and her media projects. It’s a massive lifestyle flip that would make anyone feel a bit adrift.
Missing the "Family Gatherings"
It isn't just the work. It’s the people. During a revealing BBC interview, Harry admitted he misses the "family gatherings" where everyone is brought together under one roof. Think Sandringham at Christmas or the high-stakes energy of a Jubilee.
- The Friend Factor: He has reportedly lost several close friends in the process of moving. Many of his old Eton and Army buddies stayed loyal to the Prince of Wales, leaving Harry in a bit of a social vacuum in California.
- The Heritage Gap: He’s also worried about what his kids, Archie and Lilibet, are missing. He told the BBC that it’s "sad" they won't grow up knowing his homeland or their royal heritage.
The Security Roadblock to a U.K. Return
If Prince Harry reportedly misses his royal life, why doesn't he just come back more often?
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It basically comes down to one word: Security.
As of January 2026, Harry is still locked in a legal battle over his police protection in the United Kingdom. He lost a major challenge in May 2025 and is currently fighting to have the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) reevaluate the threat level against his family.
He has been very clear: he doesn't feel safe bringing Meghan and the kids to the U.K. without taxpayer-funded, armed protection. To him, "inheriting the risk" of being born a prince should come with the lifelong guarantee of safety. To the British government, if you aren't a working royal, you don't get the perks. It's a stalemate that keeps him thousands of miles away from the very life he reportedly misses.
A Split-Time Solution?
There are rumors that Harry is "holding out hope" for a middle ground. He doesn't want to move back to London full-time—let’s be real, Meghan seems very settled in California. But he is reportedly looking for a permanent home in the U.K. so he can divide his time.
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He wants to be able to "step in" when needed, especially given the health challenges King Charles and the Princess of Wales have faced recently. But the Palace remains wary. The "half-in, half-out" model was rejected back in 2020, and Prince William, in particular, is said to be very much against reopening that door.
What This Means for the Future
The idea that Prince Harry reportedly misses his royal life doesn't mean he regrets leaving. It just means the "freedom" he sought has a higher price tag than he expected. Being a private citizen is great until you realize you’ve traded a thousand-year-old legacy for a series of Zoom calls and legal battles.
Actionable Insights for Following the Story:
- Watch the Court Cases: Harry’s return to the U.K. for legal proceedings (like the Associated Newspapers case in January 2026) is usually the only time he spends on British soil. These visits are a barometer for his relationship with his father.
- Monitor the Security Decision: If RAVEC grants him protection, expect a "summer of Harry" in the U.K. If they don't, the distance will only grow.
- Look at the Solo Projects: The more Harry engages in solo, military-focused charity work, the more he is signaling a desire to return to his "Officer" roots.
The reality is that Harry is a man caught between two worlds. He loves his new life's privacy, but he seems to crave the old life's purpose. Whether he can ever find a way to merge the two without a total reconciliation with William remains the biggest question in the royal world today.
Check the latest updates from the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) rulings later this year for the final word on his travel safety.