5 things to know about Meghan Markle’s new life as a royal

The Duchess of Sussex has a fabulous future ahead of her.

May 31, 2018

Now that the royal wedding is behind her, Meghan Markle is settling in to life as The Duchess of Sussex. She and her husband, Prince Harry captivated hearts around the world when they tied the knot at Windsor Castle and now everyone is wondering what they will do next.

For starters, don’t expect Markle to fade into the background. Meghan is reportedly focused on “young women and teenage girls. She is familiarizing herself with the landscape in this country,” Lorraine Heggessey, chief executive officer of the Royal Foundation told PEOPLE. “She’s meeting groups and wants to do that privately so she can get to know people.”

Markle’s friend and makeup artist Daniel Martin told the magazine that The new Duchess is intent on affecting change. “There is a lot of work ahead of her, and it takes a really strong person to fill those shoes,” he said. “This is now a huge platform for Meghan to really get into the activism that she wants to do. She’s really stoked about taking on the role and trying to make change happen.”

Here are 5 more things to know about Meghan Markle’s new life as a royal:

Babies on the brain. While Meghan Markle and Prince Harry haven’t announced that they’re trying to start a family, the pair have hinted that babies are definitely part of their plan. When Markle visited Northern Ireland in March, she reportedly told the owners of baby product brand, Shnuggle, “I am sure at one point we will need the whole thing… It’s very sweet.” Prince Harry shared a similar sentiment during a November interview with BBC. “You know, one step at a time,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll start a family in the near future.”

Honeymooning. Rumors have been swirling about where the couple will spend their honeymoon and it looks like their sights may be set on Canada. TMZ reported the royal couple is eyeing the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta as their honeymoon spot and would stay in the 6,000 square foot Outlook Cabin, also known as “the royal retreat.” The price tag? Only $7,000 per night.

New digs. According to Us Weekly, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry recently signed a two-year lease on a new crib on the Great Tew Estate in the Cotswolds. The pair will reportedly spend their weekend at the home known as Westfield Large while their official residence at Kensington Palace is being renovated. The new place shares a lot with David and Victoria Beckham’s country home. In addition, Queen Elizabeth is expected to gift the couple with another pad, York Cottage from her Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Looks like there’s some home decorating in Markle’s future.

Fancy friends. According to reports, Meghan Markle has become good friends with Amal Clooney who is helping her get the lay of the land in London. “Meghan and Amal have known each other for a while [and share] many interests,” an insider told PEOPLE. “Amal has been helping Meghan settle into London life…It was a very natural friendship from day one.”

The royal treatment. Meghan Markle is getting the royal treatment thanks to her grandmother, The Queen England. According to reports, Samantha Cohen is the former assistant private secretary to the queen and has been advising Meghan on things like protocol and how to navigate social life as a royal. Markle also has a new palace aide, Amy Pickerill, who is responsible for running her office and organizing all of the Duchess’ official duties. “She is a brilliant choice and has been helping Meghan adjust to the new surroundings,” an insider told PEOPLE.