Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face Cotswolds backlash over UK move

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face concerns from Cotswolds locals as they prepare for an extended return to the UK

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s reported move back to the UK has prompted mixed reactions among residents in the Cotswolds, where the couple are reportedly considering a home.

Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield told Page Six that some residents in the North Cotswolds are “not overly excited” about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex potentially settling in the area.

Schofield said the region is accustomed to high-profile residents but generally values privacy and a low-key lifestyle. She claimed some locals are concerned that Harry and Meghan could attract increased media attention to the community.

“The advice from locals is essentially that Harry should keep a low profile and allow the family to settle quietly into the community,” Schofield told Page Six.

She added that the couple could improve relations with residents by keeping a low profile and avoiding unnecessary publicity.

Page Six previously reported that Harry and Meghan had been house hunting in the Cotswolds, potentially near Highgrove, the Gloucestershire home of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

The couple reportedly returned to the UK for an extended period after spending around six years living in California. Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are also expected to begin school in the UK.

Sources cited by Page Six said the move would allow the children to spend more time with their grandfather, King Charles, while Harry and Meghan work on rebuilding their ties to the UK.

Harry and Meghan stepped down from their senior royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States. They have remained largely estranged from several members of the Royal Family, although Harry and King Charles have reportedly made efforts to improve their relationship.

The couple’s potential Cotswolds move could therefore mark a significant change in their relationship with life in the UK.