Meghan And Harry To Spend Their ‘Baby Bubble’ In The US

Meghan Markle may have married into a family with more traditions and rules than any other in the world, but the Los Angeles-born former actor has already made it clear that her royal status will not be dictating how she lives her life.

Last week, as we awaited the official announcement of the birth of theDuchess and Prince Harry’s first child, the latest in Meghan’s breaks from royal protocol was revealed – that she and Harry would be hiring a US nanny, rather than using the British agency Norland to find one, as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge did. The departures from tradition for Baby Sussex don’t stop there. Grazia can now reveal that the couple are looking at property in the US as part of their plans to have a permanent base in Meghan’s hometown of LA.

‘Meghan and Harry have their hearts set on a place in California,’ our source reveals. ‘They intend to split their time between England and the States a lot more once the baby is born. Meghan likes the idea of being in the city she considers to be “home”, and thinks they’ll be able to maintain more of a private “bubble” there in the months following the birth, when they don’t have so many duties to fulfil.

Meghan’s childhood friends, as well as newer ones like Serena Williams and Oprah Winfrey, mostly live in LA, so it’s perhaps not a surprise that she wants to spend more time there – not least because it’s where her mother Doria Ragland is based. While at the time of going to press Doria was poised to fly to London for the birth, a source close to the family tells Grazia, ‘She has little interest in full-time relocation to the UK.’

Meghan and Harry recently moved into Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, having previously divided their time between Kensington Palace and a rented £1.9m Cotswold-based farmhouse. But Meghan has previously spoken of her love for LA, saying, ‘It’s a city of transients – people coming from all over the world, searching out the Hollywood dream. Life in my LA is all about taking care of your mind and spirit just as much as your body.’

According to our source, Meghan, 37, and Harry, 34, have been looking for a US home to lease from as soon as next month, with a view to buying in the future. Their focus is in the Malibu and Los Feliz areas, both of which are popular with A-list stars. ‘They’ll need somewhere ultra-secure, and there are lots of private mansions tucked away in gated estates,’ adds our source. ‘Los Feliz is where Meghan went to school and she likes its hip, cosmopolitan charm.’

There are signs this new semi-LA life may also suit Prince Harry. Since marrying Meghan, he’s spoken publicly of his love of yoga and meditation. ‘He wants to get to know Meghan’s world a lot better, too,’ adds our source. ‘And there’s no better way than having their own bolt-hole near where she grew up.'