With its golden-stone villages, lush rolling countryside and idyllic country pubs, the Cotswolds represents the quintessential English rural getaway—and has long attracted Britain’s wealthiest and most famous residents.
The Beckhams, Kate Moss, Jeremy Clarkson and, more recently, Hollywood star Sydney Sweeney are among the celebrities associated with the area, which has gained a reputation as a glamorous rural retreat.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are now the latest high-profile names to establish a base in the sought-after region, reportedly securing a private home for themselves and their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.
Following an extensive search said to have involved a budget of around £10million, the Sussexes moved into the property over the weekend.
According to the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden, the home is believed to be part of an estate owned by a wealthy businessman who is a friend of the couple. Harry and Meghan had reportedly been staying with him after returning from California earlier this year.
The Cotswolds could provide the privacy and seclusion the couple are seeking—but questions remain over how comfortably they will settle among such a prominent group of neighbours.
One royal commentator has suggested that the Sussexes may struggle to find their place in the area’s celebrity-heavy social scene.
Richard Fitzwilliams told the Daily Mail: “It depends who they befriend, but with other royals and people such as the Beckhams living there, they may find themselves out of their depth. They appear to aspire to A-list status, but they are not A-listers.”
He added: “They were not a success in Hollywood. No one else is quite like them, which may be fortunate. She failed at the Daytime Emmys and has joined Junior MasterChef in Australia; perhaps the Cotswolds will help her find her level.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly moved into a new Cotswolds home
The property is believed to be on the estate of a wealthy businessman friend
The region is already home to several of the couple’s celebrity friends, including former talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi. The pair bought Kitesbridge Farm near Burford for £15million in 2024 and were close to Meghan during the Sussexes’ years in California.
Yet for Harry and Meghan, who have frequently spoken about their desire for a more private life, the Cotswolds may not be an entirely natural choice.
Famous for its postcard-perfect villages, honey-coloured cottages and cobbled lanes, the area welcomes thousands of visitors each year. That popularity has also fuelled concerns about overcrowding and overtourism.
Victoria Summerley has lived in Bibury for 14 years. The village has just 600 residents but can attract as many as 20,000 visitors in a single day during the busiest periods.
Speaking to the BBC, she said some tourists’ behaviour had deteriorated since the pandemic and described seeing “unbelievable” levels of litter in the stream.
The arrival of Harry and Meghan is likely to add even more attention to a destination that already draws significant tourist interest.
Mr Fitzwilliams also believes the couple’s presence may not be welcomed by all those who live in the Cotswolds.
“Local people are generally likely to dislike the Sussexes’ arrival because, as we know, they are deeply unpopular in Britain,” he said.
“This is a rural part of the country, known for traditional English villages, rolling hills and a royal presence.
“Communities of this kind are often strongly supportive of the monarchy. In the Sussexes’ case, critics believe they have used their royal connections ruthlessly, and the wider public is aware of that.
“Many of the Cotswolds’ wealthy and traditionally minded residents would view this very unfavourably.”
With the region already facing overtourism, local reaction to the Sussexes’ arrival remains uncertain
Mr Fitzwilliams further predicted that Harry and Meghan could bring additional visitors simply by placing the Cotswolds in the spotlight.
“The publicity is likely to be significant,” he said.
The royal commentator described the move as part of a “carefully planned strategy”, arguing that the couple rarely make major decisions by accident.
Their choice of location could serve several purposes, from bringing them closer to existing friends to creating new relationships that might help expand their social and professional opportunities.
“Given the continuing rift within the royal family, Meghan and Harry’s friends—or people they meet in the Cotswolds—may prefer to keep their association private,” Mr Fitzwilliams said.
“It is highly unlikely that the Sussexes would plan to remain there for any significant period without first putting some form of support network in place.”
Unlike some of the region’s other famous residents, however, Harry and Meghan have a longstanding personal connection to the Cotswolds. Harry spent many happy periods there with his brother, Prince William, at Highgrove, King Charles’s private Gloucestershire residence.
During the early years of their relationship, the couple also regularly visited Soho Farmhouse, the luxury Cotswolds retreat where cabins can cost up to £1,200 per night.
Mr Fitzwilliams believes the couple could attract more tourists by bringing extra media attention to the Cotswolds
The venue hosted Meghan’s understated hen celebration in March 2018, just months before her wedding to Harry.
Before the couple married in May of that year, royal sources told the Daily Mail that they were particularly fond of Oxfordshire and were considering secluded, high-end homes among the Cotswold hills.
Nearby landmarks include Althorp House, the Spencer family estate in Northamptonshire. The couple stayed there during a visit to the UK in July, as well as spending time in Windsor.
Whether Harry and Meghan will blend into the Cotswolds’ established community of celebrities and ordinary residents—and how their arrival will affect the area’s already substantial tourist crowds—remains to be seen.