Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly received some encouraging news following their return to the UK, with a property expert suggesting that the current housing market could give the couple an unexpected advantage.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly based in the Cotswolds during their extended stay in Britain. While their current arrangement is understood to be a rental, the latest property figures have raised the possibility that buying a home in the area could become a more attractive option.
According to property expert Saif Derzi of Property Buyers Today, the Cotswolds market has seen prices fall compared with previous years. Data cited from Rightmove reportedly showed overall sold prices in the area were down 2% year-on-year and also below the 2023 peak.
That change could potentially give Harry and Meghan more room to consider purchasing a property if they decide that their new UK lifestyle is something they want to maintain.
However, the couple's decision to rent may be deliberate rather than a sign that they have ruled out buying. After spending years living in California, moving straight into a multimillion-pound UK property would represent a major long-term commitment.
Derzi suggested that renting could be the more practical choice for the Sussexes because their future plans may still change.
For a couple who are expected to travel frequently, a high-end rental could provide the privacy and security they want while allowing them to experience life in the Cotswolds before committing to a permanent home.
The location itself has reportedly become an important part of Harry and Meghan's UK plans. Their return has attracted considerable attention, particularly because their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are expected to begin school in Britain.
The family is also understood to be maintaining its California home, meaning their UK arrangement does not necessarily signal that they are permanently leaving the United States.
There has also been speculation surrounding other possible properties. Reports recently claimed that Meghan rejected an offer involving The Falconry, a historic lodge connected to the Spencer family's Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire.
The reported reason was largely practical, with the property considered too remote and inconvenient for the lifestyle the couple wanted.
For now, the Cotswolds appears to offer Harry and Meghan something of a middle ground: privacy away from central London while remaining within reach of the capital.
Whether they eventually purchase a permanent British home remains uncertain. But with property prices reportedly softer than they were at their recent peak, the latest market conditions could give the Sussexes an opportunity they may not have had a few years ago.
Importantly, the claims about their property plans remain based on reports and expert commentary. Neither Harry nor Meghan has publicly confirmed that they are preparing to purchase a Cotswolds property.
