Princess Eugenie's strengthening relationship with Prince Harry and discussions about a possible move to California are adding new pressure to an already strained British royal family, according to individuals familiar with internal dynamics. Those close to the family say Prince William views Eugenie's deepening ties with the Sussexes as a development that could further destabilize an institution still navigating divisions created by Harry's departure in 2020.
People close to Harry say he has been encouraging Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, to consider relocating to California, where he and Meghan Markle have established their post-royal lives. The suggestion, according to these individuals, reflects Harry's longstanding friendship with Eugenie and his belief that she could benefit from a more private environment while offering him and Meghan a rare sense of familial continuity in the United States.
The outreach comes at a difficult moment for Eugenie. Friends say she has been increasingly affected by the ongoing scrutiny surrounding her father, Prince Andrew, whose status within the monarchy has diminished following the fallout from his association with Jeffrey Epstein. The situation, they add, has left Eugenie balancing her role as a mother with her desire to protect her children from heightened attention.
Advisers familiar with conversations around the family say Eugenie has been considering how to stabilize her personal and professional future without distancing herself entirely from royal responsibilities. The uncertainty around Andrew's position has created broader unease around London, and Harry and Meghan have emerged as consistent emotional support for her during this period.
A potential move to the United States could also create new career options. People familiar with the Sussexes' current projects believe Eugenie could contribute to the Invictus Games or collaborate on future initiatives tied to Meghan's media endeavors. Such roles would enable her to combine charitable engagement with greater independence from the formality of royal life.
The California environment, these individuals say, could also provide respite from reputational pressures linked to her father. For Eugenie, the option represents an opportunity to build a life with more control over her public presence and fewer expectations tied to monarchical traditions.
Yet the possibility of a transatlantic relocation carries its own complications. Royal observers say Prince William remains sensitive to perceived realignments within the family and could interpret Eugenie's proximity to Harry as an additional challenge to the monarchy's already fragile cohesion. The tension stems less from Eugenie's personal choices, they say, than from the symbolic weight of any shift toward the Sussexes.
People close to Harry emphasize that his interest in bringing Eugenie to California stems from concern for her well-being, not a desire to heighten internal conflict. Still, those familiar with Buckingham Palace operations note that the move could inadvertently widen existing rifts at a time when the family is striving to maintain stability.
