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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry spent six blissful weeks away from the U.K. and their royal duties over the holiday season 2019 and into the New Year. Though fans had speculated about the royal couple’s whereabouts for weeks, it wasn’t until just after the Christmas holiday when the world learned that the Sussexes had been vacationing on Vancouver Island in Canada

The pair had a relaxing holiday with the baby son, Archie Harrison. During the time off, the couple went hiking, running, shopping, and spent quality time with their friends and loved ones.

Since Markle and Prince Harry are one of the most recognized couple’s on the planet, we wondered how they got away with being incognito for so long.

Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Vancouver Island vacation

The prince and the duchess decided to head to Vancouver Island to get away from the media and press — and to plan their exit as senior members of the royal family. Since the paparazzi and press aren’t as present on the island like they are in the U.K. and the U.S., the pair were able to spend time taking in the beautiful outdoors on walks, jogs, and hikes.

“Horth Hill’s become a very popular place now. And they jog around, so they’ve been seen,” Deep Cove Chalet co-owner Bev Koffel said. “It’s kind of exciting. I hope everything goes fine for them. They’re breaking away from tradition and I just wish them all the best.”

The Sussexes’ Canadian vacation may have pushed them to resign as senior royals

Though the pair had spoken openly about the hardship they’d experienced as senior members of the royal family, this time away obviously pushed the Sussexes to make the choice to resign and become financially independent. In a shocking announcement on Jan. 8, just three days after returning from their vacation the duo broke the internet. They said in part,

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. 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.

This is how Meghan Markle and Prince Harry remained incognito in Canada

With the help of Canadian musician, David Foster, who is married to Markle’s friend Katherine McPhee, the Sussexes were able to rent a $14.1 million mansion on Vancouver Island which was outfitted with all of the security that the pair needed.

A Vancouver Island local revealed to Hollywood Life, “[The Sussexes]=were seen at all the local spots in town. It’s a very small community [just 45 minutes from the city of Victoria] so they were in town for more than a week before it became news. The weather was gorgeous so they were out walking in the park almost every day with Meghan’s dogs.”

Though baby Archie wasn’t spotted out and about with his parents, Markle was spotting doing some light shopping with her mother, Doria Ragland. “Harry and Meghan were basically enjoying themselves like locals,” the insider explained to Hollywood Life. “People gave them privacy. No one was bothering them but they definitely made a good impression — everyone’s still talking about it.”

Once the duke and duchess got a taste of the good life, they couldn’t go back.

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