Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s recent decision to buy a vacation home in Portugal has raised eyebrows, with some royal experts suggesting the purchase may have underlying motives beyond simply enjoying a getaway. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their investment just as King Charles and Queen Camilla embarked on a high-profile visit to Australia and Samoa, a moment seen by some as an attempt to reassert their influence.
Royal commentator Lady Colin Campbell shared his perspective on the timing of the purchase, suggesting it may have been a strategic move. “Charles and Camilla are in Australia and Samoa, and we’re talking about Harry and Meghan, and Portugal. “They’re geniuses,” Campbell commented on Dan Wootton’s YouTube channel, indicating that the duke and duchess may be intentionally keeping themselves in the public eye while the royals are abroad.
Campbell compared the move to a tactic used decades earlier by Colin Tennant, who gifted Princess Margaret land in Mustique and then built her a house. This gesture helped turn Mustique into a haven for renowned celebrities.
“It’s the oldest trick in the book.” Campbell notedadding that the approach draws attention to both the royals and their locality, potentially raising their profile. Speculating further on the couple’s intentions, Campbell suggested that Meghan’s purchase could also be designed to support Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, who have ties to Portugal.
“This is a version of (Mustique),” he noted, adding, “to help Jack and Eugenie and get them some publicity.” Given that Eugenie and Jack have also spent considerable time in Portugal due to Jack’s work on a sustainable resort project, the move could signal solidarity between the Sussexes and the younger branch of the royal family.
Whether their reasons are purely personal or strategic, Harry and Meghan’s decision to purchase property in Portugal has certainly reignited public interest, sparking speculation about the couple’s future plans and relationships within the royal family.