With its golden-stone cottages, sweeping green hills and idyllic country pubs, the Cotswolds represents the quintessential English countryside getaway—and has long attracted some of Britain’s wealthiest residents.
The Beckhams, Kate Moss and Jeremy Clarkson are among the well-known names linked to the region. Hollywood actress Sydney Sweeney has also recently joined its growing celebrity circle.
Now Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly the latest high-profile arrivals, having secured a secluded rural base for themselves and their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.
Following an extensive search, reportedly guided by a budget of around £10million, the Sussexes moved into their new home over the weekend.
The property is believed to be on the estate of a wealthy businessman and friend who had hosted the couple since they left California earlier this year, Our News Outlet’s Richard Eden revealed.
Yet although the Cotswolds could provide the privacy Harry and Meghan seek, questions remain over how comfortably they will settle among their new neighbours.
One royal commentator believes the couple may find the area’s unusually star-studded social scene difficult to navigate.
Richard Fitzwilliams told Our News Outlet that their reception would depend on the company they keep, but argued that the presence of other royals and celebrities such as the Beckhams could leave the Sussexes “out of their depth”.
He also criticised the couple’s attempts to establish themselves in Hollywood, saying they had not achieved the level of success associated with the A-list status they sought. Fitzwilliams added that Meghan’s recent professional ventures, including an appearance linked to Junior MasterChef in Australia, might represent a better fit for life in the Cotswolds.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly moved into their new Cotswolds home
The property is believed to be situated on the estate of a wealthy businessman friend
The Cotswolds already counts several of the couple’s celebrity friends among its residents. Former talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, bought Kitesbridge Farm near Burford for £15million in 2024. The pair were close to Meghan while the Sussexes were living in California.
However, for a couple whose public image has often centred on the pursuit of privacy, the Cotswolds may not be an entirely natural choice.
Famous for its postcard-ready villages and cobbled lanes, the region draws thousands of visitors each year—and many communities are struggling with the effects of overtourism.
Victoria Summerley has lived in Bibury for 14 years. The village has roughly 600 residents but can receive as many as 20,000 visitors in a single day during the busiest periods.
Speaking to the BBC, she said tourist behaviour had deteriorated since the pandemic and described the volume of rubbish left in the stream as “unbelievable”.
Harry and Meghan’s arrival is likely to intensify the area’s already considerable appeal, potentially bringing even greater attention to the villages they now call home.
Fitzwilliams is also doubtful that the Sussexes will receive a warm welcome from all existing Cotswolds residents.
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He said many locals were likely to object to their presence, pointing to the couple’s deeply polarising reputation in Britain.
“This is a rural area of traditional English villages and rolling hills, but it also has a strong royal connection,” he said.
According to Fitzwilliams, communities of this kind tend to be strongly supportive of the monarchy. He claimed that Harry and Meghan had made extensive use of their royal status and suggested that the area’s often wealthy, conservative residents would view that negatively.
With the region already battling overtourism, questions remain over how locals will respond to their new royal neighbours
Fitzwilliams further predicted that the couple could encourage additional visitors simply by placing the Cotswolds in the international spotlight.
“The resulting hype is likely to be significant,” he said.
The royal commentator described the move as part of a carefully considered strategy, arguing that Harry and Meghan are unlikely to make such a decision without a clear purpose.
Their choice may reflect more than a desire for a picturesque home. The Cotswolds offers access to established friends, influential contacts and a network that could potentially create new opportunities.
“Given the rift within the royal family, some of Meghan and Harry’s friends—or people they meet in the Cotswolds—may prefer to remain anonymous,” Fitzwilliams said.
He added that it was unlikely the Sussexes would plan to stay in the region for any significant period without first putting some form of support network in place.
Unlike many of the area’s celebrity residents, however, Harry has a longstanding personal connection to the Cotswolds. He spent time there with his now-estranged brother, Prince William, at Highgrove, King Charles’s private residence in Gloucestershire.
During the early stages of their relationship, Harry and Meghan also regularly visited Soho Farmhouse, the luxury Cotswolds retreat where accommodation can cost up to £1,200 a night.
Fitzwilliams believes Harry and Meghan could attract more tourists by bringing heightened media attention to the region
The retreat was also chosen for Meghan’s intimate hen party in early March 2018, just months before the couple’s wedding.
Before their marriage that May, royal sources told Our News Outlet that Harry and Meghan were particularly drawn to Oxfordshire and were considering secluded, high-end properties in the surrounding Cotswold hills.
Nearby Althorp House, the Spencer family estate in Northamptonshire, was among the places the couple visited during their UK trip in July, alongside Windsor.
Whether Harry and Meghan can settle into the Cotswolds’ celebrity social scene, build goodwill with ordinary residents and avoid adding to the region’s already overwhelming tourist crowds remains an open question.
