Harry and Meghan made headlines when they left the UK and relocated to America in 2020, but it turns out they are not the first royals to make the bold move.
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their decision to step back from their royal duties and move to North America, it made headlines worldwide.
In early 2020, the couple announced their decision to step back from their royal duties and become financially independent. This move was met with shock and criticism, with many questioning their commitment to the royal family and their duties. In March 2020, they officially stepped down as senior royals and moved to Canada. They did not stay there for long and eventually settled in California, where they currently reside.
However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not the first members of the British royal family to cross the Atlantic in search of a new life. Here, we take a look at members of the Royal Family who once relocated to the USA, either for a career or education.
Princess Eugenie
One of the first royals to live in the US was Prince Harry's cousin, Princess Eugenie. In 2013, she moved to New York after being offered a job at an online auction house. Despite the opportunity to live in a large apartment in a central location, Eugenie chose to live downtown in the trendy Meatpacking District.
During her time in New York, she was often spotted attending basketball games, trying out different restaurants, and watching fashion shows. Eugenie returned to London in 2015 but has since visited the US on several occasions.
Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor
Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor (Sophie Winkleman), moved to California shortly after getting married in 2009. Sophie Winkleman, a successful actress known for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, left the UK to continue her rising career in the US.
The couple welcomed their first child, Maud Elizabeth Daphne Marina Windsor, at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Centre in 2013. However, they eventually moved back to the UK, where they welcomed their second child, Isabella Alexandra May Windsor, in 2016.
Lady Gabriella Kingston
Lady Gabriella Kingston, the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, graduated from Brown University in 2004 with a BA degree in Comparative Literature and Hispanic studies. She later went on to earn an MPhil degree in Social Anthropology from Linacre College, Oxford.
Alexander Ogilvy
Princess Alexandra's grandson, Alexander Ogilvy, graduated from Brown University, where he studied Computer Science and Economics. He now works at a software development company in New York.
Reasons behind royal relocations
The reasons behind the royals' decisions to leave the UK and move to the US vary. Princess Eugenie moved to New York for work, while Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor moved to California so that Sophie Winkleman could continue her acting career. Lady Gabriella Kingston and Alexander Ogilvy both went to the US for their education, and Alexander decided to stay there after graduating.
In the case of Harry and Meghan, their decision to leave the UK was influenced by several factors, including the intense media scrutiny they faced and their desire for a more private life. They also wanted to become financially independent and pursue their own charitable endeavors.
Read more:
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⋙ Prince Harry and Meghan will no longer have a royal residence in the UK
