Prince Harry and Meghan Markle bought a home in Portugal because US move fallen flat

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s move to Portugal has nothing to do with Princess Eugenie living there according to an ex-royal staffer who revealed the surprising reason they’re relocating.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle want to move to Portugal because their life in California has not panned out how they hoped.

The pair have spent a reported A$7.2 million buying a yet-to-be-constructed home off the plan at CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club.

Many believed the purchase was so Harry could spend time with his favourite cousin Princess Eugenie, to who he has remained close despite being exiled from most of the royals.

Princess Eugenie of York, Jack Brooksbank and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex have remained close. Picture: AFP.

Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank maintain a residence in Portugal where they like to spend time with their sons August, 3, and Ernest, 1.

However, King Charles’ former personal butler Grant Harrold told the New York Post there was another more compelling reason they were relocating to Europe.

There is another reason the royals are moving to Portugal.

“Maybe living in the States wasn’t what they thought it would be and that could be why they’re now supposedly edging their way back in the direction of the UK,” Mr Harrold said.

The revelation comes after Harry appeared on a video call for NATO with a wedding photo of him and the Duchess of Sussex in full view signalling he wanted to display the strength of his love for his wife amid rumours about their marriage.

Prince Harry showed off a private family photo during a NATO talk. Picture: Supplied

Prince Harry was on the call to speak with the NATO Military Committee about his work on the Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014.

But it was his decor that stood out most — as the father of two showed off a photo from his fairytale 2018 wedding to the former Suits star on a shelf behind him.

The couple famously married at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 and In a rare peak inside the couple’s private life, Prince Harry apparently opted to frame one of him and Ms Markle riding in the carriage after the ceremony.

Yesterday, the #InvictusGames Foundation was given the opportunity to brief NATO’s Military Committee at @NATO Headquarters on our dedication to supporting international wounded, injured, and sick service members and veterans through sport. #IAMHere 💛🖤

— Invictus Games Foundation 💛🖤 (@WeAreInvictus) October 31, 2024

During the virtual call, Prince Harry also displayed a poppy on the lapel of his suit ahead of Remembrance Day, which takes place on November 11.

Prince Harry appeared sans Ms Markle at NATO Headquarters via video teleconference, where he spoke about the work the Invictus Games Foundation carries out each year.

He was unable to appear at the meeting in person as it was held in Berlin, Germany far from his California home.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married at Windsor to great fanfare in 2018 before he famously fell out from his family. Picture: AFP

The royal launched the Invictus Games a decade ago as multi-sport Paralympic-styled games for wounded or injured servicemen and veterans.

The Sussexes are currently gearing up for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025.

The games will take place in Canada from February 8 to February 16 — which comes 18 months after the 2023 event held in Germany.

During their trip to Vancouver in February, where the couple spent Valentine’s Day on the snowy slopes, the pair joined members of the participating nations’ Winter Training Camp at the “One Year to Go” event.

The Sussexes have lost their sheen in America. Picture: AFP

The camp, held over a period of three days, provided an opportunity for members of the international Invictus community to try their hand at winter sports ahead of next year’s games.

At last year’s event, Markle hinted that the pair will bring their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to the next games.

It comes as the newly appointed CEO of the 2025 Invictus Games revealed how Markle insisted she be addressed as “ma’am” and Prince Harry “sir” ahead of their first meeting earlier this year.

Earlier this week, the Sussexes also found themselves on the wrong side of Eric Trump who said the exiled royal need not worry about his US Visa debacle because no one in America “gives a damn” about him.

Presidential nominee Donald Trump’s second son, had some scathing remarks about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, saying it’s “sad to watch” how the pair have “gone off the deep end”.

“Truthfully I don’t give a damn about Prince Harry and I don’t think this country does either,” Mr Trump told the Daily Mail.

Eric Trump described the late Queen as “amazing” and praised her treatment of the former president on a visit to the UK in 2019. Picture: AFP