Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are adding to their real estate portfolio. Nearly two years after being evicted from Frogmore Cottage at Windsor Estate, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly buying a new home in Europe.
According to multiple reports, the couple purchased a vacation home in Portugal (in addition to their residence in Montecito, Calif.), which would allow them to still retain a foothold on the other side of the Atlantic, despite stepping back from their roles as senior royals in 2020.
But why choose Portugal of all places? Well, in addition to the sun and sand, owning a home in the European country could make Meghan, an American citizen, eligible for a Golden Visa, which would allow her visa-free access to the European Union’s Schengen area that consists of 26 countries—including Italy, Spain, and Greece.
A new Portuguese property would also enable them to be closer to family. Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, own an estate at the CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club, an exclusive golf resort by the sea in Melides south of Lisbon, per The Telegraph. Brooksbank works in marketing and sales for CostaTerra and divides him time between Portugal and London with Eugenie and their two young sons—August and Ernest.
Harry and Meghan have visited Portugal at least once before when they enjoyed a “romantic three-night break” at Eugenie and Brooksbank’s estate after The Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany during a “mega-secret operation” in 2023, The Daily Mail reports.