Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s recent property purchase in Portugal has generated both intrigue and frustration. The couple has reportedly invested in CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club, a luxury resort near Lisbon, potentially allowing them to apply for a “Golden Visa” which offers a pathway to residency in the EU. This visa could be especially advantageous for Meghan, an American citizen who abandoned her bid for British citizenship when the couple left the UK in 2020. The visa would grant them greater flexibility for travel across the EU’s Schengen area, which aligns with their international engagements.
Their choice of CostaTerra is also notable due to family ties, as Prince Harry’s cousin, Princess Eugenie, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, own property nearby. Jack, who works with CostaTerra’s developer, Discovery Land Company, may have facilitated their entry into the resort community, strengthening familial bonds in Europe even as the couple’s relations with the British royal family remain tense.
However, the property acquisition has sparked controversy locally. Recent changes in Portuguese laws permit certain private ownership rights over coastal areas, limiting beach access for residents in some areas. This restriction has fueled discontent among locals who feel their coastline is being increasingly privatized, leading to concerns that the influx of wealthy buyers is transforming Portugal’s coastal regions into exclusive enclaves, disrupting public access and local traditions.
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This property expansion highlights the Sussexes’ ongoing search for privacy and security while enabling them to maintain connections within Europe amid their active public roles and evolving royal relations.