It’s the only familial bond that has survived Prince Harry’s marriage to wife Meghan, and now the son of the King has made a big move to strengthen his ties with Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank even further.
Last week, news broke that 40-year-old Harry has snapped up a multimillion-dollar Portuguese bolthole in the Alentejo region, not far from where his cousin, 34, and her husband, 38, live.
PRIZED LOCATION
“This base in Portugal is ideal for Harry in several ways. It’s a hop-skip to London, without having to take on any security issues that a home in the UK would cause, and it’s happening thanks to the help and advice of people Harry trusts, Eugenie and Jack,” says a source.
“The whole area has become a mecca for the A-list and billionaires – it’s the new hidden St Tropez.”
Harry and Meghan were first spotted in the area last September, following the Invictus Games in Germany, and it’s believed Eugenie’s husband Jack could have helped facilitate the real
estate purchase.
The two couples became close when Harry and Meghan started dating and with Harry estranged from the rest of his family, being close geographically to Eugenie could help assuage the sense of loss he feels.
PERFECT ESCAPE
“It’s no secret Harry’s homesick and being a few very accessible hours away from his sick father will give him peace of mind. The expat community in the area of their new home is typical of the people Harry grew up around, but the biggest bonus will be having his kids grow up at least knowing Eugenie and her kids August, three, and Ernest, 16 months.
“He worries about their inexperience being around royalty. If Lilibet [three] and Archie [five] are right on the royals’ doorstep at some point it will be hard for even William to completely exclude them.”
The European base will also give Harry the perfect escape path should things continue to go south with Meghan. And there are rumours that things are in rocky shape, with him spending his 40th with his mates and flying solo since.
“Harry’s a very proud man and can’t stand being ridiculed. To have an industry bible like The Hollywood Reporter destroy Meghan, like they did earlier this month, has been very embarrassing, so it’s no surprise this ‘second home’ option has suddenly appeared,” says the insider.
“Officially it’s a second home for Harry, Meghan and the children, but if they’re unable to turn around their big California fail, this would be the perfect safe haven for them – with a direct line to the palace.”