Page 37 - People (February 2020)

and they are relieved to have it done,” was all smiles as she drove to Victoria International
says a friend. “A weight has been lifted Airport on Jan. 16 to pick up Pilates guru Heather
off their shoulders.” Dorak, one of the key friends she leans on for sup-
But their new life hasn’t come without port (see box). Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland,
a price. After a series of intense discus- who lives in L.A., is now a shorter plane ride away,
sions with Harry’s 93-year-old grand- which has been helpful for the new mom. “She
mother Queen Elizabeth, the couple definitely gets a lot of her strength from her moth-
lost their ability to use their HRH (His/ ‘Harry er,” says a close friend. As fallout from the couple’s
Her Royal Highness) titles, and Harry doesn’t departure continues—it’s unclear whether they
had to forgo his role as youth ambassa- will retain the use of their Sussex Royal branding—
dor to the Commonwealth. “It brings me care about Meghan is deliberately keeping her circle tight.
great sadness that it has come to this,” he the titles. “She has been very withdrawn and isn’t engaging

said on Jan. 19. Harry—who served 10 It doesn’t with a lot of people right now during this transition
years in the British army, including two interest period,” says an insider. “She’s keeping a low profile
tours of Afghanistan—was also stripped him’ while things settle down.”
of his honorary military appointments. And their time out of the royal spotlight has
— S O U R C E
“There’s no going back for Harry now,” only strengthened the bond between Harry and
says a source. Adds a palace insider: “The Meghan—or H and M, as they call each other.
military was a part of his upbringing and “They are besotted and very sweet with each oth-
his life. He brought a lot to those guys and er,” says the person in their circle. They’re also
understood things. It is sad.” enjoying undivided time with Archie. Harry hap-
Most painful of all, though, is the unfinished pily shared that his son recently saw snow for the
business left behind with Harry’s brother Prince first time and thought it was “bloody brilliant!”
William, 37. “They didn’t leave on good terms by The close friend says, “Archie is the priority. It’s
any means, but they are both relieved that it’s over,” very much still about taking care of him and
a family friend says of the brothers’ ongoing ten- putting the family first. He’s a happy kid—he
sions, which date back to 2017, when William loves to laugh. Archie and Harry have such
cautioned that Harry and Meghan were mov- a good time together. And Meghan is a
ing too fast. In recent weeks, however, the great mom. She’s very much about tend-
brothers have been talking more, says a pal- ing to him. They are trying to live their
ace source, leading some to hope that they can life as regular parents.”

gradually repair their fractured relationship. That means exploring the area as
“Perhaps [Meghan and Harry] didn’t think
things through exactly as they could have, but
they wanted to be happy,” says the family friend. What’s So SPECIAL About
“Who can blame them for that?”
Despite the sacrifices—Harry also left behind VANCOUVER ISLAND?
the rest of his family and closest friends—the cou- With its beaches,
ple ultimately negotiated “almost everything they wilderness parks and
asked for,” says the palace insider, with the abili- quaint local shops
(including Deep
ty to live and work where they want at the top of Cove Market, bottom,
the list. As for the loss of their HRH titles, “Harry where Harry has
doesn’t care about the titles,” says a source in their stopped in to try
the homemade
circle. “It doesn’t interest him; it never has.” sandwiches),
T
With their newfound freedom, Harry and Vancouver Island BY HE
Meghan have quickly adapted to life on scenic is a tranquil oasis. NUMBERS
“It’s ridiculously
Vancouver Island, where they have been stay- beautiful,” says
ing in a $14 million mansion off the Pacific coast. local gallery owner 4,743 MILES
“They both love to be outside and have been loving Douglas Reynolds. Distance to London
“Taking the ferry,
it there,” says the friend. When they’re not doing
FROM TOP: THE IMAGE DIRECT; ALAMY a local spot, and Meghan walks her beagle Guy and outside being active.” Average annual
you might see a killer
yoga or eating in, Harry will pick up sandwiches at
whale.” Adds Kristen
51.8¡F
Butler, owner of the
island’s Modo Yoga
the couple’s new Labrador. “It was just this tremen-
temperature
Nanaimo (Meghan
is a fan of the chain):
dous shift when Meghan returned to Canada [after
“People are always
their announcement],” says another source. “You
could tell that she felt so much less stressed.” She
February 17, 2020 39