Prince Harry ‘now a househusband in hiding’
Prince Harry is described by royal watchers as having settled into a starkly different domestic equilibrium in California, friends say RadarOnline.com he has embraced life as a hands-on parent, while Meghan Markle has emerged as the driving professional force at their Montecito mansion.
But critics say it amounts to reducing the 41-year-old prince to an “oppressed househusband” while Markle is the “pants-wearing breadwinner” in the family, thanks to her As Ever brand and content deals.
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Prince Harry doubts his masculinity?
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Prince Harry has embraced life as a hands-on parent in California.
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Six years after stepping back as a working royal in January 2020, Harry is living far from Britain’s ceremonial structure. He is raising his children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, with Markle in Montecito.
The move was understood as the couple’s push for independence and privacy, but new stories suggest the Duke of Sussex is still adjusting to a life where traditional roles have been reversed and his wife increasingly ‘wears the pants’ in their relationship.
One source said Harry’s life in California brings mixed emotions.
“Harry barely leaves the house and cleans, tidies up and takes care of his and Meghan’s children,” the insider added.
While he enjoys the bliss of domesticity, being a “househusband” makes him question his masculinity and traditional gender roles.
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From royal schedules to domestic routine
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Friends said Prince Harry is focusing on childcare and household routines.
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The source added that the Duke’s daily life is now “definitely” focused on childcare and routine rather than public duties.
Another insider emphasized that the contrast with Harry’s previous life remains great.
They said: “When Harry was a working royal, his life was dictated by timetables, security protocols and constant surveillance. His every move was planned, and once he returned to the palace grounds his freedom effectively ended.”
That feeling of being permanently managed is gone in California.
The insider added that the lack of structure has created challenges for the prince.
“What is often overlooked is that Harry was shaped by both the military and the royal family,” the source said. “Discipline, hierarchy and a clear sense of duty are fundamental to who he is, and those elements are largely missing from his daily life in Montecito.”
According to those close to him, the loss of his formal purpose professionally has caused Harry to drift.
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Prince Harry ‘focused on raising his children’
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Observers noted that Meghan Markle has become the top earner.
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A royal expert said the power dynamics within the Sussex household have become increasingly apparent.
They added: “In Britain, Harry operated within a clearly defined framework. His role involved formal duties, scheduled appearances and a sense of institutional purpose. In California, he has yet to establish a similar professional identity.
“Instead, he has focused on raising his children and taking on the role of a highly involved parent, while Meghan has become the main earner.”
That shift has fueled the commentary. Harry has, as one source put it, “become a househusband who has traded royal duties for school runs.”
Another source told us: “The idea of Harry as a backup has been transformed. He is no longer defined by his place in the line of succession, but by a life in which his public presence takes a back seat to Meghan’s professional momentum and ambitions.”
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Royal Watchers said the couple has adapted to a new balance in California.
Despite his upbringing in the royal ‘fishbowl’, Harry would remain uncomfortable with California’s celebrity culture.
A source said: “Despite years in California, Harry remains uncomfortable with the performative nature of life in Hollywood. He has long struggled with intense social anxiety, and public exposure does not come naturally to him. Meghan, on the other hand, is much more comfortable in that world.”
A California-based acquaintance also said the dynamic suits Markle.
“Meghan is naturally decisive and outward-looking, and feels comfortable taking the lead in public and professional settings,” they confide.
“Harry, on the other hand, seems much more content operating out of the spotlight and devoting his energy to family life and the daily rhythms of home.”
