Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Branded ‘Middle Aged Couch Surfers’ Over Reported Move Within Friend’s Cotswolds Estate

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly moved from the main house into another property on a wealthy friend’s Cotswolds estate, months after returning to the UK with their children. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had been staying with the businessman since their return in August.

The change follows an earlier account suggesting the couple could face a lengthy search for a permanent British home. A friend said their requirements, including substantial land, could mean waiting 12 to 18 months or longer before moving into a suitable property.

Harry and Meghan’s Cotswolds Move

The couple reportedly moved from the main house into another property on the same estate. An insider said they had been ‘living in the main house’ before they ‘moved to a property on the estate’.

The unnamed businessman was described as a friend Harry met through their shared support for military charities. He was said to welcome the couple and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, continuing to live on his estate.

The reason for the family’s move between properties and the terms of their stay remain unclear. It is also unclear how long they can remain in the separate home or whether they have agreed a departure date. The family were also reported to have travelled overseas around the October school break, although their destination was not disclosed.

Responding to the report on X, user @Riabhaigh4 called Harry and Meghan ‘middle aged couch surfers’. The comment expressed the user’s opinion of the couple’s reported living arrangements.

The Search for a British Home

A friend of Harry said finding a property ready to occupy could take time. Homes with the amount of land the couple wanted did not become available every week, the friend explained.

‘He thinks it may be 12 to 18 months before they’re into a new place, and that’s if you are thinking about completing at the end of this year or early next year,’ the friend said. ‘So it could be even further away than that.’

The estimate was a friend’s assessment, rather than a moving date announced by Harry and Meghan. It concerned the time needed to move into a suitable home, not simply identifying somewhere they might consider buying.

Royal commentator Tom Sykes had previously linked Harry’s search to the Cotswolds, including the area near Highgrove, the residence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. He attributed the information to a friend of Harry and said the Duke knew the area well.

Tyler Perry Hosted the Sussexes

Harry and Meghan also accepted accommodation from a friend while establishing themselves in the United States after stepping back from senior royal duties in 2020. Filmmaker Tyler Perry hosted them at his Beverly Hills home before they bought and moved into their Montecito residence that August.

The Montecito property was reportedly being maintained while the family were away in September. An insider said: ‘No one is moving in’, adding: ‘There are folks still maintaining the property.’

Keeping the Montecito residence would allow the family to retain a California base alongside any longer-term accommodation in Britain. Their reported stay on the Cotswolds estate leaves the timing and location of a permanent British home unresolved.