The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly struggled to rebuild their social circle since returning to the UK, with claims that they now spend most of their time with just two friends: American comedian Ellen DeGeneres and her Australian actress wife, Portia de Rossi.
According to royal reporter Tom Sykes, a friend of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said the couple's only friends and the only people they see are DeGeneres and de Rossi. Sykes said: "A friend of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has basically told me that their only friends and the only people they see are Ellen and Portia. I know. Isn't it sad? Isn't it tragic? Ellen and Portia - your only mates."
Old friendships lost
Before Megxit, the Duke of Sussex was surrounded by friends from school, the Army, the polo set, and his own family. When Harry and Meghan fled to the US in 2020, many mutual friends he shared with his brother William, and in UK high society, had a choice: side with the royal critic Harry, or back King Charles, Prince William and Britain.
Most chose the latter. Earlier this year, the Express revealed how Harry had suffered the body blow of William reportedly taking over a group of old friends. Ben Dawes, Thomas van Straubenzee and Edward van Cutsem were seen with the Prince of Wales in Istanbul in May as Aston Villa won the Europa League. William van Cutsem, Edward's brother, and Thomas were childhood friends with both William and Harry.
It is said the future King turned to Thomas for support after Harry and Meghan left the Royal Family in January 2020. Mike and Zara Tindall have also backed William, Catherine, Charles and Camilla. Ex-England rugby ace Mike Tindall joked that he knew Harry "when he was fun".
Isolation in the Cotswolds
Sykes adds that several mutual acquaintances were shocked at how much the Prince's social life had changed since his return to Britain. "They describe this man who was very beloved, had all these friends, but today seems to be very very lonely and very very cut off," Sykes said of Harry.
"They're [The Sussexes] are not going out, they're afraid to go out. They're hugely paranoid about security. Interestingly, they're also shunning the efforts of neighbours and school parents to befriend them."
DeGeneres and de Rossi, who used to live near the Sussexes in Montecito, California, moved to the Cotswolds in November 2024 after Donald Trump's re-election. Like Harry and Meghan, they also have a home in Montecito, reportedly splitting their time between the UK and the US.
So they have friends, but not as many as before and not as many as they would like. In every single way, what's happened to Meghan and Harry is simply sad.
