It’s been nearly a year since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shocked the world by stepping down as senior royals and moving across the world to California. This week, a friend of Harry’s spoke out to say that he is “thriving” in California and that he has found himself since stepping away from royal life.

“Harry doesn’t have any regrets about leaving the royal family whatsoever and is really happy in Montecito,” the insider told US Weekly. “He and Meghan are enjoying their new life in California — being a normal family and having the freedom to make their own decisions without anyone watching over them.”

Harry and Meghan spent months living in Los Angeles before moving to the quieter neighborhood of Montecito, where the source said Harry has indeed been “thriving.”

“[He] has grown in confidence since the move,” the source said. “Harry isn’t looking back, although he does miss his friends at home.”

Another source added that Harry and Meghan are “closer than they’ve ever been and feel so lucky to have each other” after a whirlwind year.

“2020 was a huge game-changer for Harry and Meghan and it came with its ups and downs — the stress of announcing their departure from the royal family, moving three times, dealing with the pandemic, making huge business decisions, setting up Archewell, coming to terms with the miscarriage,” the insider said. “It’s brought them closer together and made them a stronger couple.”

Fox News reported that Harry and Meghan announced in January of last year that they had decided to take a step back from royal life “after many months of reflection and internal discussions.”

“We have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” the couple said. “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.”

“We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honor our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages,” they added. “This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.”