After the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, had a private meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla earlier this month, there have been rumours about Harry making a potential comeback to the UK. Insiders have suggested that the royal couple purchasing a property in Portugal in 2023 was a way to be closer to Britain. But could their real estate move actually have a different hidden motive?
Knight Frank’s Global House Price Index revealed in Q2 of 2025 that Portugal had an 18 per cent annual growth, being one of the fastest-growing European housing markets. Therefore, it would be an extremely savvy place to make a purchase.
Data from the Institute of National Statistics for Portugal suggests that a property in Portugal bought at the beginning of 2025 would now already be worth 20 per cent more just a year later.
Portugal would also have been a desirable location due to the ease of the buying process there. Both UK and US citizens can freely purchase property with no restrictions on type or quantity.
Interior overhaul
The couple have also been working on renovations, overhauling the interiors, according to reports, which will, of course, also raise its value. The MailOnline reported that their property is currently undergoing a design makeover. It’s a special project because Harry and Meghan have brought in designers from Soho House, the members’ club where they had their first date in 2016, to spearhead the transformation.
It is also probably no coincidence that Princess Eugenie also has a base in Portugal, considering that she and Prince Harry have remained close despite his estrangement from the rest of the family. Eugenie has been seen to have taken many trips stateside since Harry relocated in 2020. Eugenie and her family are based on the CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club in Comporta. It is not known where the exact location of Harry’s home is.
Montecito mistake?
The royal couple still retain their main home, a mansion styled like a Mediterranean villa, called the Chateau of Riven Rock in the heart of Montecito. Despite the area being a celebrity magnet and houses regularly costing tens of millions of pounds, Montecito has seen a downturn recently.
A report by real estate expert Mark Ashton Hunt in the Montecito Journal details the current climate in the local area, explaining that the number of homes for sale has decreased, as well as the overall final sale prices.
© NetflixAdditionally, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have done very little to renovate the property since moving in – a move that’s seen them critiqued by neighbours – which will prevent them significantly increasing the value of the house.
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