Amid the rumors about their marriage, the couple has opted for privacy, raising their children, Archie and Lilibet, in their $14 million California mansion. Recently, they also purchased a property in Portugal, located in Alentejo, about an hour from Melides.
This location may not be coincidental. Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, own a home in Melides. Reports suggest that Harry’s cousin is one of the few Royal Family members still close to the Sussexes.
Royal commentator Christopher Andersen explained to Fox, “The number of people inside the Royal Family who are willing to proclaim their friendship for Harry and Meghan has dwindled to practically nothing. Somehow Prince Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie, who has a home in Portugal, has been able to straddle the fence – to remain in the king’s good graces but also not turn her back on the Sussexes. Obviously, Harry and Meghan are very grateful for the loyalty Eugenie has shown.”
He added, “Purchasing a villa in Portugal has more to do with being close to a Royal Family member who is still genuinely fond of them than it does with being geographically closer to Great Britain.”
A Potential Bridge to the Royal Family?
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told the Daily Mail that the Sussexes’ new home “emphasizes that they still have goodwill” with some members of the Royal Family.
“This proves they are close, and it also gives the Sussexes a base in the EU with the possibility of acquiring the Golden Visa, which would give them free access to the EU’s Schengen area. This also gives them a base near Britain,” Fitzwilliams noted.
He speculated that this could lead to “more solo or perhaps even joint visits to Britain, but without participating in royal life or royal rituals at Sandringham and Balmoral.”
“Sad” Impact on Archie & Lilibet
Fitzwilliams emphasized the importance of relationships for Archie and Lilibet, stating, “How curious and sad it will be for Archie and Lilibet if they grow up knowing they are part of one of the most famous families in the world — and yet they are estranged from almost all of them. To know that their grandfather and uncle were both Kings, and they didn’t know them.”
Despite concerns, royal expert Tom Quinn revealed to the Mirror that Meghan is deeply worried her children might “blame her” for not knowing their royal cousins. “A friend of the couple – one of Meghan’s few aristocratic friends from her time in the UK – told me Meghan does miss some aspects of life in the UK and worries that her children will blame her if they never get to see their cousins,” he said.
While it’s unclear whether Harry and Meghan will reconcile with the Royal Family, it’s evident that their decisions could shape their children’s future relationships with their extended family.
