What Happened to Meghan, Duchess of Sussex?
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has continued to forge an independent path since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, focusing on media production, lifestyle branding, and philanthropic endeavors. As of August 2026, she and Prince Harry have relocated to the United Kingdom for an extended period with their children, while maintaining their non-working royal status and pursuing various personal and professional projects, including a potential return to acting and the expansion of her lifestyle brand.
Quick Answer
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, along with Prince Harry and their children, has recently relocated to the United Kingdom for an extended stay, with their children enrolled in British schools for September 2026. She continues to develop her lifestyle brand, 'As Ever,' which recently launched new products, and her Archewell Productions maintains a 'first-look' deal with Netflix. While reports surfaced in August 2026 about a significant acting role, these claims were later dismissed by industry sources. Her philanthropic efforts through Archewell Philanthropies remain a key focus, notably celebrating Meta's recent child safety settlement.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Stepped Down as Senior Royals
Meghan and Prince Harry officially stepped back from their roles as senior working members of the British royal family, announcing their intention to become financially independent and split their time between the UK and North America.
Signed Netflix Deal
The couple signed a multi-year production deal with Netflix, reportedly worth $100 million, to produce documentaries, docu-series, feature films, scripted shows, and children’s programming through their company, Archewell Productions.
Birth of Daughter Lilibet
Meghan gave birth to her second child, a daughter named Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, in Santa Barbara, California.
Launched 'Archetypes' Podcast
Meghan launched her first podcast series, 'Archetypes,' on Spotify, featuring interviews with prominent women about stereotypes. The deal with Spotify was reportedly worth $20 million.
Spotify Deal Ended
Spotify and Archewell Audio mutually agreed to end their commercial partnership after only one series of 'Archetypes' was produced, with reports citing low content output.
Acquired Property in Portugal
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly acquired a property in the Melides area of the Alentejo coast in Portugal, while retaining their Montecito home.
Netflix Series 'With Love, Meghan' Premiered
Meghan's lifestyle series, 'With Love, Meghan,' premiered on Netflix, showcasing her interests in home entertaining and wellness. A second season was released in August 2025.
Launched 'As Ever' Lifestyle Brand
Meghan officially launched her lifestyle and cooking brand, 'As Ever,' an extension of her personal interests and brand.
Launched 'Confessions of a Female Founder' Podcast
Meghan launched a new podcast, 'Confessions of a Female Founder,' through Lemonada Media, focusing on entrepreneurship. She later confirmed no second season was planned.
Archewell Foundation Rebranded to Archewell Philanthropies
The Archewell Foundation rebranded to Archewell Philanthropies, shifting its focus to a philanthropic fiscal sponsor operating model, leading to some staff redundancies.
Announced Cookbook Release
Meghan is reportedly planning to release her first book for adults, a cookbook featuring recipes and home entertaining tips, as part of her 'As Ever' lifestyle brand expansion.
Humanitarian Trip to Jordan
Meghan and Prince Harry undertook a two-day humanitarian trip to Jordan in partnership with the World Health Organization, focusing on global health support and mental health initiatives, including aid for children from Gaza.
Launched New 'As Ever' Product
Meghan's lifestyle brand, 'As Ever,' expanded its pantry collection with the launch of spiced apple butter, a product with personal significance to the Duchess.
Relocated to the UK
Meghan, Prince Harry, and their children relocated to the United Kingdom for an extended period, with Archie and Lilibet enrolled in British schools for September. They will reside in a private, non-royal residence and will not resume official royal duties.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Since stepping back as senior working royals in 2020, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has actively shaped a new public and professional identity alongside Prince Harry. Their move to California marked a pivot towards media production and independent ventures, initially securing lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify. The Netflix partnership, through Archewell Productions, has yielded projects such as the docuseries 'Harry & Meghan' (2022) and Meghan's lifestyle series 'With Love, Meghan' (2025), which saw a second season in August 2025. While their original Netflix deal expired in 2025, Archewell Productions successfully renewed a multi-year 'first-look' creative partnership, ensuring Netflix has first refusal on their film and television ideas.
However, not all media ventures have been without challenges. Their reported $20 million podcast deal with Spotify ended in 2023 after only one series, 'Archetypes,' was produced, with reports citing low content output and creative tensions. Following this, Meghan launched 'Confessions of a Female Founder' through Lemonada Media in April 2025, but has indicated no plans for a second season, choosing to focus on her business endeavors. Her lifestyle brand, 'As Ever,' officially launched in April 2025, expanding into various products and featuring in her Netflix series. In March 2026, Netflix ended its direct partnership with 'As Ever,' with the brand now evolving independently, though it continues to release new products, such as spiced apple butter in August 2026.
Philanthropically, the Archewell Foundation rebranded to Archewell Philanthropies in January 2026, shifting its model to fund other organizations rather than running its own programs. This change followed a reported drop in donations in 2024 compared to 2023, leading to some staff redundancies. Despite these organizational shifts, the couple remains committed to their humanitarian work. In March 2026, they undertook a significant humanitarian trip to Jordan in partnership with the World Health Organization, focusing on global health and mental health support, including aid for children evacuated from Gaza. In August 2026, they publicly celebrated Meta's multibillion-dollar child safety settlement, aligning with Archewell Philanthropies' advocacy for safer online spaces.
A significant development in August 2026 saw Meghan and Prince Harry, along with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, relocate to the United Kingdom for an extended period. This move, planned for some time, includes enrolling their children in British schools for September. They will reside in a private, non-royal residence and will not resume official working royal duties, maintaining their status as private citizens. While initial reports in August 2026 suggested Meghan was in talks for a major acting role in Guy Ritchie's Netflix series 'The Gentlemen,' these claims were later dismissed by industry sources, who stated the casting was dropped due to backlash and that the UK move was not primarily for acting. Meghan did, however, have a cameo in the Amazon MGM comedy 'Close Personal Friends' in 2025.
Looking ahead, Meghan is reportedly planning to release her first adult book in early 2026, a cookbook featuring recipes and home entertaining tips, rather than a tell-all memoir. This aligns with her focus on lifestyle and entrepreneurship, a path she has increasingly embraced, seeing herself as an entrepreneur and female founder. The couple also reportedly acquired a property in Portugal in 2024, indicating a diversified international presence. Their current status as of August 29, 2026, is that of non-working royals residing in the UK, balancing their children's education with ongoing media projects, philanthropic efforts, and the expansion of Meghan's personal brand.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Meghan, Duchess of Sussex made different choices?