Meghan Markle is reportedly set to make a return to acting in nearly a decade, after securing what is being described as a “significant” role that is understood to have played a hand in the Sussexes’ shocking decision to move back to the U.K. with their children
Meghan, 45, last appeared in a leading role in 2018, when she featured in her final season of the legal drama “Suits,” having filmed her last scenes for that show in 2017, shortly before her wedding to Prince Harry
While she has made a handful of on-screen appearances in the years since—and filmed several real-life projects, including the Sussexes’ 2022 Netflix documentary, “Harry & Meghan”—the Duchess of Sussex has taken on no noteworthy acting after “Suits” came to an end
However, Meghan will now step back in front of the cameras, according to multiple reports, with News.com.au’s royal correspondent Bronte Coy stating during an interview with BBC Radio 4 that the Duchess of Sussex is “excited” to be taking on such a “significant” project
“I’m told it’s significant, and she’s very excited about it,” Coy said
Specific details about the project are currently unclear, however People magazine reports that Meghan’s new role was responsible, at least in part, for her family’s relocation back to the U.K., a move that was announced this week
Meghan’s step back from her acting career in 2017 was prompted by her focus on her new duties as a member of the British royal family—howevero those roles when they move back to the U.K., and will instead be treated very much as private citizens
Loading…
This opens the door for both Meghan and Harry to pursue their own professional projects, including her return to acting
Thus far, no information has been revealed about where the Sussexes plan to base themselves when they return to the U.K., however insiders told both People magazine and The Telegraph that they have already found a property to call home, while their son, Archie, 7, and daughter, Lilibet, 5, have been enrolled in local schools
Those samening to let go of their $14.65 million Montecito mansion, which they purchased in June 2020, soon after stepping down from their royal roles
When the couple moved, Archie was still an infant, and Lilibet was born in California. Both children have attended school in the Montecito area in recent years—while Meghan has been busy building a lifestyle brand, As Ever, which was inspired by her life in the California enclave
There is no suggestion that her return to acting will impact her position as the head of As Ever, which she is understood to be eager to continue running from her new home base in the U.K
end for their relocation to be permanent—insisting that they will retain their sprawling Montecito property, presumably with the view that they will live there again at some point in the future
However, maintaining that residence will not come cheap for the couple, who are estimated to be paying a fortune on taxes, mortgage payments, and upkeep on the property
Annual property taxes for the year 2025 were just over $152,000—or $12,667 a month—while the monthly payments on their $9.52 million adjustable-rate mortgage are estimated between $40,000 and $43,000
Add to that the cost of maintenance, security, and monthly bills, and experts estimate that the couple could be paying as much as $650,000 a year, or $54,167 a month, just to keep their California dwelling
The couple purchased the property for $14.65 million in June 2020 and Realtor.com® currently estimates that, on paper, the manse is worth around $16.73 million today. However, experts say that Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, could end up earning much more for the dwelling should they decide to sell
The couple’s decision to relocate back to the U.K. suggests a significant thawing in the rift between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family, a divide that has been further deepened by Harry and Meghan’s repeated attacks on the monarchy—including in their explosive tell-all primetime interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021
Loading…
During that sit-down, the couple made several bombshell allegations about their treatment at the hands of other members of the royal family, accusations that Harry doubled down on in his memoir, “Spare,” which was published in January 2023
However, in recent months, Harry has shown a desire to reconnect with his family—and his father, in particular—especially after Charles was diagnosed with cancer in January 2024
“I know that Charles is the reason they are moving back,” one
Indeed, the news comes just weeks after Harry and Meghan made their first visit to the U.K. as a family in four years, traveling to Britain with their children for a trip that spanned several days—and followed a vacation in Portugal, where they own a vacation home
While Meghan and the children are not understood to have spent any time in London with Harry, who had several work commitments in the capital, they did have the opportunity to meet with King Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla
They then traveled to West Northamptonshire to stay with Charles Spencer, the brother of Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana, at the family’s longtime estate, Althorp
Meghan shared several images from their trip on her Instagram account soon after their return to the U.S., hinting that the couple took their children to lay flowers at Diana’s burial site, which is located at the center of a private lake on the Althorp estate
One image posted by the mother of two featured Harry and Archie walking side by side through the grounds of the estate carrying bouquets of flowers, while Lilibet was seen following behind them
Another snap showed Meghan reclining on a sun lounger next to the pool at the estate, cuddling the family’s beagle, Mamma Mia, who is thought to have traveled to Europe with them. Spencer’s new wife, Cat Jarman, was seen in the background, along with her husband
It’s understood that the family were invited to the property by Spencer, who owns the estate and resides there with Jarman.
Interestingly, Harry and Meghan’s return to the U.K. comes amid an ongoing battle between the Duke of Sussex and the British government over the family’s taxpayer-funded security, which was revoked after they stepped down as working royals
Get real estate news in your inbox
Charlie Lankston is the executive editor at Realtor.com. She previously worked at DailyMail.com as the associate editor covering news, celebrities, travel, lifestyle, and the British royals. In 2019, she was part of the DailyMailTV team that won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment News Program. Charlie earned a B.A. in English literature and theatre studies from the University of Warwick and an M.A. in newspaper journalism from City University in London. Originally from London, she has been based in New York City for 12 years.
