After years of royal scandal—which included a bombshell documentary and memoir—the Sussexes are finally entering their homebody era. Not only has Prince Harry settled into life in California, but Meghan Sussex (née Markle) is also campaigning for domestic goddess status with her new Netflix show and lifestyle brand, As Ever.
Though the show With Love, Meghan wasn’t filmed at her family residence, she has shared glimpses of her personal space on Instagram. Still, we’re eager to learn more about her and Harry’s real estate portfolio. To help satiate your appetite for star-studded abodes, we did some serious sleuthing. And, as expected, their real estate history has major global appeal.
Before they met, Meghan and Harry were total globetrotters: The prince was raised in upper-crust estates like Kensington Palace and Highgrove House, while the California-bred actress purchased property in Toronto when she was filming Suits. However, when they got engaged in 2017, they lived everywhere from the United Kingdom to Canada to the United States. And who knows? Rumor has it that the couple has their sights set on Europe. Read on for an in-depth look at the couple’s real estate roundup.
Related StoriesNottingham Cottage
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Both Prince Harry and Meghan might’ve lived in plenty of places as singletons, but their shared real-estate portfolio began with Nottingham Cottage, a smaller property within the grounds of Kensington Palace. Harry reportedly occupied Nottingham Cottage as early as 2013, and Meghan moved in around their engagement in 2017. (According to the Netflix series Harry & Meghan, this is where the prince proposed.) But just because this 17th-century residence is part of the monarchy’s many properties doesn’t mean it’s outlandishly ostentatious.
In fact, it’s surprisingly modest. Clocking in at 1,324 square feet, this cottage only has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. And, per Harry, it had plenty of old-school quirk. “The whole thing’s on a slight lean, really low ceilings,” he said in the Netflix series. “I don’t know who was there before, they must have been very short.”
Harry and Meghan eventually moved out of the cottage in 2019, shortly before the arrival of their firstborn, Archie. Now, the regal digs are home to Princess Eugenie and her family.
Related StoryThe Cotswolds Escape
When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wanted to step away from their Royal duties, they could head up to their country crib. Us Weekly reports that after their 2018 wedding, the couple signed a two-year lease on a vacation home in England’s Cotswolds area. Nestled in the Great Tew Estate, a property just north of Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire with 3,500 acres of lush countryside, the four-bedroom abode boasts a split-level kitchen and a renovated dining room.
The house, which is called Westfield Large, might seem modest by Royal standards; however, the property has some very famous neighbors. Not only is the property close to the ultra-exclusive social club Soho Farmhouse, but Victoria and David Beckham also once had property nearby.
That said, country living wasn’t all relaxing for them: A paparazzi company called Splash News captured aerial photos of Westfield Large while Meghan and Harry lived there, which kicked off a very dramatic legal battle. Ultimately, the couple received a “substantial sum” of money for damages.
Related StoryFrogmore Cottage
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Shortly before Meghan and Harry welcomed son Archie, Queen Elizabeth II gifted the growing family Frogmore Cottage. While the monarchy famously owns palaces within London proper, this cottage is outside of the city in Windsor, which is coincidentally where the couple got married in 2018.
Don’t let its name fool you: Frogmore Cottage is pretty lavish. Queen Elizabeth originally purchased the stucco Georgian home in 1972 for Queen Charlotte and her daughters, and it has since hosted many high-profile guests.
The 10-bedroom abode had a major renovation to accommodate Harry and Meghan’s growing family, and it has been tricked out with some fancy touches. (A custom kitchen and dining room? Green energy center to lower its carbon footprint? A “floating floor” that many believe was used as a yoga studio? Check, check, and check.) In 2023, years after the couple gave up their royal duties, Prince Charles asked Harry and Meghan to vacate the property. Though many reports speculated Frogmore Cottage would become Prince Andrew’s new home, the residence apparently remains vacant.
A Canadian Respite
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Once Harry and Meghan consciously uncoupled from the British monarchy, they found their post-royal respite in Canada. More specifically: Mille Fleurs, a mansion in Vancouver Island’s posh North Saanich enclave. According to Realtor.com, the luxe property is owned by a Russian oligarch and was used as a temporary home for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Clocking in at approximately 10,000 square feet, this property boasts eight bedrooms and a 2,000-square-foot guest room. A handful of A-list amenities like a wine room, double-height ceiling, and pizza oven rounded out the well-appointed pad.
The property also boasts excellent waterfront views, which quickly proved to be a blessing and a curse: Shortly after Harry and Meghan moved in, paparazzi swarmed the area, creating an unsafe environment for the couple’s growing family. Fortunately, Tyler Perry swept in and offered the couple his Beverly Hills home as a secure sanctuary.
Related StoryA Montecito Mansion
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Turns out, Harry and Meghan weren’t just California dreamin’: They made the Golden State into their home and picked up a mega-mansion for a staggering $14.65 million. Nestled in Montecito—a luxurious area of Southern California that’s home to celebrities like Katy Perry, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Oprah—the property is basically a West Coast palace. At 18,671 square feet, this Mediterranean-style manse has all the basics like 16 bathrooms, nine bedrooms, and a two-bedroom guest house—plus a few special touches. We’re talking a pool, teahouse, and chicken coop.
While we’re still waiting for a full-blown home tour, we did see snippets of the space in Oprah’s must-watch interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. You know, the one where Oprah famously asked Meghan if she was silent or silenced.
Though the family of four seems pretty happy with their California lifestyle, it looks like they’re taking their real-estate portfolio international once again…
Related StoryProperty in Portugal
In 2024, Meghan and Harry allegedly purchased a home in Portugal for $8.4 million. While not much is known about their latest acquisition, The Mirror reports the couple’s vacation home is situated on the country’s Iberian coast. At first thought, Portugal might seem like a random place to set down roots, but there might be a larger strategy at play. Not only does Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie own property at the CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club—so they’ll have a built-in vacation buddy—but Portugal also has a Golden Visa program.
Translation? When foreigners invest €250,000 into the Portuguese economy, they can gain access to Europe’s visa-free Schengen area—and be eligible to apply for dual citizenship five years later. It’s a great way for Harry to be closer to his family, minus all the tabloid drama.