Prince Harry reveals secret plan to move to South Africa with the Queen’s blessing
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may have made sunny Montecito, California, their American haven, but Prince Harry has revealed in his memoir Spare that the couple once came close to calling South Africa home instead.
In a reflection, Harry explains how he and Meghan toyed with the idea of living abroad part of the year, striking a delicate balance between royal duties and a more “normal” life—an idea even backed by Queen Elizabeth II.
Harry recalls the moment in his book, “Brief as it was, that taste of freedom had got us thinking. What if life could be like that… all the time? What if we could spend at least part of each year somewhere far away, still doing work for the Queen, but beyond the reach of the press? Free.
Free from the British press, free from the drama, free from the lies. But also free from the supposed ‘public interest’ that was used to justify the frenzied coverage of us.”
At one point, the couple even imagined splitting their time between Cape Town and the UK, a plan that promised distance from royal drama while keeping him close to his beloved conservation work and the wider Commonwealth.
The late Queen reportedly gave her blessing, and Harry said King Charles had asked him to put the proposal in writing.
But once it landed in the press, the idea was quickly shut down. By December 2019, Harry was frustrated when his father again suggested he put their plans in writing. “Yeah, um, did that once before, Pa. And our plan immediately got leaked and scuppered,” he wrote.
Africa, however, has always been a special place for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. After just two dates in 2016, Harry whisked Meghan away to Botswana, where the pair spent a few romantic days under the stars.
They returned the following summer for a three week holiday, and Harry even sourced a diamond from Botswana to feature in Meghan’s bespoke engagement ring.
The continent also holds deep personal meaning for Harry, who first fell in love with Africa in the aftermath of Princess Diana’s death.
It was there, on safari with his father and brother, that he began to heal from unimaginable loss.