- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced on Wednesday that they plan to “step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family,” and that they would be splitting their time between the UK and North America.
- Since the announcement was made, people have been speculating about where the couple would move.
- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly considering moving to Los Angeles, California, but some also think they might live in Canada.
- Insider spoke with “Love It or List It” host David Visentin about the best areas of Canada for the duke and duchess to live, as well as Jeeb O’Reilly and Yawar Charlie from the Aaron Kirman Group at Compass about the ideal spots in Los Angeles.
- Visentin recommended Vancouver, while O’Reilly and Charlie think Beverly Hills would be a good fit for the pair.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they plan to “step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family” on Wednesday.
The couple will be working to become “financially independent” from the rest of the royal family, and they intend on splitting their time between the United Kingdom and North America.
http://instagr.am/p/B7EaGS_Jpb9
According to the Sussex Royal website, Harry and Markle plan to continue living at their current UK residence, Frogmore Cottage, at the discretion of the queen.
"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will continue to use Frogmore Cottage - with the permission of Her Majesty The Queen - as their official residence as they continue to support the Monarchy, and so that their family will always have a place to call home in the United Kingdom."
But Harry reportedly defied the Queen when making his announcement, so the duke and duchess may not remain welcome at Frogmore.
The duke and duchess have not made any formal announcement about where they plan to live, but people are speculating on where the couple may move to in North America
Rumors have circulated that the couple is interested in moving to Los Angeles, California. A source close to the couple told Page Six, "Meghan really wants to live in California, it's where she is from and where her mother lives."
Others think Canada is a likely location for the pair to settle down with their son Archie, both because they spent the holidays in the country and because The Duchess of Sussex reportedly returned to Canada shortly after the couple announced their plans to step back from royal life.
In addition, Canada is part of the Commonwealth, making it easy for the couple to transition to a residence there.
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also tweeted that the couple are "always welcome" in the country in December 2019.
Prince Harry, Meghan, and Archie, we’re all wishing you a quiet and blessed stay in Canada. You’re among friends, and always welcome here.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 21, 2019
As Canada and Los Angeles appear to be the most likely places for the couple to move, Insider spoke to real estate experts in both areas about the best neighborhoods and territories for the duke and duchess to take up residence.
HGTV's "Love It or List It" host David Visentin thinks Vancouver would be a good fit for Harry and Markle if they move to Canada
According to Visentin, the famous and wealthy often live in Toronto and West Vancouver.
"I think Vancouver has more to offer for the royals," Visentin told Insider.
"Harry grew up skiing, and that's where some of the best skiing is found," he pointed out. "It also rains a lot there so he will feel right at home."
"And it's a hop, skip, and a jump from California, which is great for Meghan for going back home when she feels like it," Visentin added.
He also thinks it's a better choice than Seaton Village, where Markle lived when she was filming "Suits," because the village has "too much snow."
"There are some very posh neighborhoods that provide the type of living they would enjoy, and plenty of waterfront opportunities that also have a view of the city and mountains," Visentin said of Vancouver.
Real estate experts from Los Angeles think Markle and Harry would feel at home in Beverly Hills, California
Jeeb O'Reilly and Yawar Charlie, experts from the luxury real estate agency Aaron Kirman Group at Compass, advised Insider on where the duke and duchess should live in the Los Angeles area.
"I think Los Angeles is the perfect choice for Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan," Charlie told Insider.
"Here in Los Angeles, we cater to high-net-worth individuals and have an industry built around celebrities. Those celebrities require a certain level of housing, protection, and privacy."
"I'd recommend that they live in Beverly Hills or Bel Air," he went on to say. "Bel Air, in particular, has a level of security and homes behind gates where ultra-high-net-worth individuals, celebrities, and members of various royal families from around the world have their compounds."
O'Reilly thinks the gated community Beverly Park would be ideal for Harry and Markle. It's minutes from BHPO, Beverly Hills Post Office, where Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas lived until August 2019, according to Architectural Digest. Chopra and Markle are close friends.
"It's actually the crown jewel of BHPO," O'Reilly said of Beverly Park.
O'Reilly and Charlie both agree that the duke and duchess should not live in Windsor Hills, where Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, currently resides.
"I would never recommend that they choose to live in such an exposed, accessible neighborhood," Charlie said.
Privacy was at the heart of both experts' recommendations.
"Above all else, I feel that they need a space to truly call home and relax in without the fear of paparazzi looming around the corner," O'Reilly said.
Only time will tell where the duke and duchess will decide to live as they enter this new phase of their life together.
- Read more:
- Meghan Markle has reportedly returned to Canada amid rumors that she and Prince Harry will move there
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle burned the British press when they announced they were stepping back from the royal family
- Here's what Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's future could hold now that they're leaving the royal family
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got a $3 million, taxpayer-funded home renovation before quitting as senior royals