Harry and Meghan reportedly move to a new home on a friend's Cotswolds estate

Move within the same estate

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly left the main house on a businessman friend's Cotswolds estate for a separate property on the same grounds. Daily Mail royal columnist Richard Eden broke the story, and other outlets repeated it in the first days of November. The move took place over the weekend before the autumn half-term, when the couple's children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, had no school from 26 to 30 October. The Sussexes had been living at the main house since late August, when they landed in Britain with their children after six years in the United States.

A search for a permanent base

The family had been looking for a long-term home in the countryside. Reports put their budget at up to 10 million pounds, and they wanted a mansion with at least nine bedrooms, plenty of land and no public rights of way across the property. Reports do not say whether they have bought the new property. The estate owner, who became friends with Harry through their shared support for military charities, is reported to be happy for the family to stay on for as long as they choose. The children now attend school in the UK, after the family had to move away from their first choice over security concerns.

Homes in California and Portugal

The couple are keeping their Montecito mansion in California. The Independent reports its value at 19.5 million pounds and lists a gym, swimming pool, cinema, wine cellar and 13 bathrooms. Other outlets give a different figure, with Focus and 20 Minuten citing 14.5 million dollars in a Page Six report from September, and 20 Minuten giving about 12 million Swiss francs. A further home in Portugal was reported in 2024 in the CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club, a development of around 300 homes near the sea in Melides, south of Lisbon.

Thomas Markle investigation

The move coincides with a police investigation into Thomas Markle. Focus reports he is suspected of possessing child abuse material, and that his son found it in his former house and reported him to the police. The FBI has reportedly become involved, and The Independent reports that police in the Philippines have also opened an investigation. La Vanguardia reports that he has recently been admitted to a care centre for people with dementia. Some reports say the family's trip abroad was meant to escape the headlines about him, though its destination has not been disclosed.

Open questions

The family's destination during the break remains unknown. The Independent reports that Meghan is expected to relocate temporarily to Australia next year to co-host Junior MasterChef, which is slated to be produced in Melbourne, and that Harry and the children may visit her, although nothing has been confirmed. Harry has fought a long-running battle with the British government to restore publicly funded police protection, which was cancelled when the couple stepped back from royal duties in 2020. He has said he could not see himself bringing his wife and children back to the UK without a security guarantee.