It’s officially been one year since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their big decision to step down as senior members of the royal family. And since then we’ve been wondering if the move had any effect on the Duchess of Sussex’s ability to apply for her U.K. citizenship. Turns out, it did.
ICYMI: Back in 2018, a spokesperson for the duchess told CNN that the 39-year-old planned on becoming a dual citizen of the U.K. and the United States. However, a new report from The Telegraph states that Markle has “abandoned” the plans to gain the new citizenship altogether. Even if she wanted to, she actually would not be allowed to apply, by law.
According to the U.K. government website, the duchess would have had to live in the country for a minimum of three years before applying. Unfortunately, the ex-royal couple decided to move to California before meeting the three-year mark. In fact, Markle was only a short six months away from the three-year residency, which would have been complete at some point in the fall of 2020.
So, while the Duchess of Sussex may no longer have the ability to gain dual citizenship, it seems the couple doesn’t regret their decision to start a new life on the golden coast. “Despite everything that has been going on this year, they don't regret their move to the U.S.," a source told People. “They love that they are able to focus on projects and causes that are important to them.”