Inside Harry and Meghan's 'quiet' Canadian life

Since retreating from royal life (but not so much the spotlight), it appears as though the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been able to enjoy a relatively quiet existence in their Vermont Island home in Canada with their 9-month-old son Archie.

"This decision [to leave] had been weighing on them for a long time, and they are relieved to have it done," a close friend of the royals has told PEOPLE. "A weight has been lifted off their shoulders."

This quiet new life may have come at a price, with Prince Harry severing official royal ties with family members and being stripped of his honorary military titles, but it does appear as though the couple have found their stride in Canada and are well on their way to transitioning to a very nice new life.

The couple ultimately negotiated "almost everything they asked for," according to a palace insider, with the ability to live and work where they want at the top of the list.

As for the loss of their HRH titles, "Harry doesn't care about the titles," says a source in their circle. "It doesn't interest him; it never has."

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While the pair have seemed to settle into their new bolthole in Canada very well, any notion that they're roughing it can be easily disregarded with the knowledge that their new digs is a $20.7 million mansion off the Pacific coast.

"They both love to be outside and have been loving it there," says the friend close to Meghan and Harry.

Apparently, when the couple aren't doing yoga or whipping-up a home-cooked meal, Harry will pick up sandwiches at a local spot, and Meghan walks her rescue beagle Guy and the couple's adopted labrador.

"They are enjoying living a quiet life," an insider says of the couple. "They go for long walks, they do yoga, and Meghan cooks. They are real homebodies who love to chill out with Archie and the dogs."