While Prince Harry dismissed ever returning to the UK with Meghan Markle over “genuine concerns” for her safety, it’s clear that the California-based couple haven’t ruled out the prospects of moving a little closer to his native London. Indeed, it’s been reported that the couple, who have lived in Montecito since 2020, have splurged on a European vacation home.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have picked up a property in Portugal, only a stone’s throw from a royal residence owned by Prince Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank. The 34-year-old member of the British royal family has long been regarded as Prince Harry’s favourite cousin, with Princess Eugenie even appearing in their 2022 limited docuseries Harry & Meghan.
The Sussexes are claimed to have enjoyed a “romantic three-night break” at Princess Eugenie’s house along the Iberian Peninsula in 2023 after attending the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf. Though no details about the purchase have been revealed, it is speculated that Prince Harry and Markle have followed suit and bought a home in the luxury golf and ocean resort, CostaTerra. Located an hour south of Lisbon, the picturesque members-only community has been dubbed the ‘Hamptons of Portugal’ and has previously attracted visitors like George and Amal Clooney.
Sources have added that Markle is also eligible for a “Golden Visa” through the acquisition which will allow her access to the Schengen countries within the European Union, which includes France, Italy and Greece, without any restrictions.
Despite the expansion of their real estate portfolio being new information to the public, it’s alleged the couple bought the holiday house “more than a year” after being “evicted” from Frogmore Cottage by King Charles III. The couple were supposedly asked to move out of the historic residence following the publication of Prince Harry’s 2023 memoir, Spare.
They were reported to have spent upwards of AUD $4.6 million renovating the house from five individual units to one complete single dwelling. They currently live close to Santa Barbara in a Tuscan-style mansion that features 16 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, a pool, library, movie room, wine cellar, chicken coop and (hopefully) a jam-making stand.
