Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have no plans to leave their California home and are prepared to fight any deportation attempts, Express.co.uk can reveal.
According to a well-placed source, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have firmly established California as their home, and plan to remain there despite the threat of being expelled from the United States.
“There are no plans [for the Sussexes] to move from the US,” said one source.
Another source added: “Harry and Meghan feel at home in California, and they won’t be leaving there without a fight.
“They have a very good legal team, and they have a lot of support behind them to ensure that they will be able to remain in the United States.”
Prince Harry, 40, is currently entangled in legal proceedings over his US immigration status.
In his memoir, Spare, he admitted to past drug use, including cocaine, cannabis, and psychedelic mushrooms, which could be grounds for his visa application to be denied.
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, has sought access to Harry’s visa records, arguing his drug use should have barred his US entry.
While a judge recently ruled that Harry’s visa application will remain confidential, this could change under Donald Trump’s presidency.
President-elect Trump, 78, remarked earlier this year that he might consider deporting Harry over issues regarding his US visa status.
“I wouldn’t protect him. He betrayed the Queen. That’s unforgivable. He would be on his own,” the president-elect stated at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February.
Recent reports suggested that Trump’s unexpected victory earlier this month had “sent the Sussexes into a spin” due to the previous comments he made about expelling Harry from America.
“Harry and Meghan are not fazed by the comments Trump made because they believe they have done everything correctly,” said the source.
“Meghan is a US citizen, and Archie has just started a new school, so to leave the place they call home isn’t even an option.”
The Sussexes, who relocated to the United States after stepping back from royal duties in 2020, have built their life in the affluent coastal community of Montecito.
Despite being happy in California, it was recently revealed that the couple purchased a new £3.6 million villa in Portugal, near Princess Eugenie’s summer residence.
However, according to the source, it’s not yet ready for use and will only ever be used as a holiday home.
“The villa in Portugal is more an investment than anything else and construction hasn’t even been completed yet,” said the source.
“It hasn’t been purchased as a new home, but more as a holiday retreat and something they can put their money into to protect their assets.”