It looks like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry might soon have fewer friendly faces around their Montecito mansion. Rumor has it that one of their last remaining A-list couple friends, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, are thinking of trading sunny California for the U.K.
Katy Perry spilled a spot of tea on the July 27 episode of The One Show while promoting her latest album. Chatting with hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp, she couldn’t hide her love for London: “I’m here, I’m back! It’s one of my favorite cities,” she gushed, per The Mirror. “Beyond Santa Barbara in California my hometown where I live, it’s where we spend so much time. Orlando and I spend so much time in London.”
This news comes at a tough time for Prince Harry and Markle, who’ve seen their social circle shrink significantly over the past few years. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have had their fair share of falling outs with big names, including the Beckhams. Even their once-close royal cousins, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, are keeping their distance as they take on more royal duties in the wake of King Charles III and Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnoses.
Prince Harry and Markle’s relationship with Hollywood heavyweights has also cooled. They were notably absent from Oprah Winfrey’s birthday bash last November and the Clooney Foundation’s Albie Awards earlier this year, events where they were once regulars.
But back to the Sussexes friendship with Bloom and Perry. The celebrity couple share a close bond with the royals, both as friends and neighbors in Montecito. Back in 2021, Prince Harry even mentioned how he and Bloom keep each other updated on nearby paparazzi during an appearance on Dax Shepard’s podcast Armchair Expert. The two couples have been seen supporting each other at major events, including Perry’s Las Vegas residency show in November 2023. Perry and Bloom’s 3-year-old daughter, Daisy, is also friends with the Sussexes’ daughter, Princess Lilibet, and attended her third birthday party back in June.
During her interview on The One Show, Perry hinted at a potential move across the pond: “We’ve been thinking about…. maybe……” she teased. “We would love to, we love it so much. It’s all just so refined. We spent all day in Hyde Park yesterday and went to the Princess Diana playground. My daughter literally went to a dinosaur-themed high tea today. I mean, where else can you get that?”
While this potential move could be exciting for Perry and Bloom, it doesn’t bode well for the Sussexes increasingly shrinking inner circle. Prince Harry and Markle have faced numerous challenges since stepping back from royal duties, and losing another close ally —even if just to another continent—could feel like yet another blow. And, given that Prince Harry just said he “won’t bring his wife back to this country” because of all the negative tabloid attention, it doesn’t seem like the Sussexes would be eager to go visit Bloom and Perry should they move to London.
As for what comes next? We’ll have to wait and see if Perry and Bloom decide to make the big move. But if they do, it looks like the Sussexes will have to continue making moves in different Hollywood and lifestyle business circles to rebuild some friendships closer to home.
Before you go, click here to see Meghan Markle’s best post-royal fashion moments below!
