After a huge move across the pond to the US back in 2020, royal couple Prince Harry and Meghan have announced a return to the UK. Not just for a visit, as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be making their home with their two children somewhere back in England.
However, the couple seem to be returning to a somewhat more fragmented relationship to the royal family to their last time living in Britain. The BBC has reported that the rest of the family, including Prince William, seemed to be uninvolved in the decision.
Instead, Harry and Meghan appear to have made a decision spurred on by recent visits, and a wish to let their children re-establish relationships with the wider royal family.
To stay close to the family, the couple are likely to settle within one of a few key areas in the UK, offering up proximity to the royal family and suitable schools, along with the need for privacy and space. These are the likely areas we think they will end up.
Cotswolds
Reports are already circling that seem to suggest that the Cotswolds would be a leading choice for the couple, and who can blame them. History, privacy and large open properties give them the option for a relatively tranquil life.
One of the factors that has long kept the couple away from the UK is their concerns over their safety, with limitations on the amount of security that they will receive. One of the many large and remote properties in this area would give them a lot more privacy than living in a more built-up area.
The Cotswolds also gives them convenient access to London, and they have a history in the area, having lived here briefly while they were still working royals.
Not to mention, the Cotswolds hosts a large number of celebrities and affluent figures for them to mingle with. They previously had a property in the Chipping Norton area, known for hosting celebrity names such as Jeremy Clarkson, David Cameron and Rupert Murdoch’s daughter, Emily.
Even more importantly, it is near to Highgrove, where Harry's father Prince Charles lives. The town of Tetbury and its surrounding areas offer plenty of opportunities for remote properties for them to live in.
Windsor
As members of the Royal Family, working or not, the Windsor region is going to hold a connection for the couple. It is where Windsor Castle, one of the major properties of the Royal Family, is held.
It also has the London Proximity, sitting just on the outskirts, and like Highgrove and the Cotswolds, features a variety of large properties for Harry and Meghan to settle into.
They originally lived in this area, taking up Frogmore Cottage as their home. However, it is unlikely that they will return here with their closer relationship to the royal family tethered, instead opting for one of the many other amazing properties in this area.
Just across the river from Windsor is Eton, an area just as rich with history, including Eton College, where both Harry and William went to school.
Northampton and Althrop
Another potential choice for the couple is the Northampton area, more specifically near the Althrop estate. Harry has a close connection to Althrop with this being the area where Princess Diana’s family estate is.
It has all of the same benefits as the above places including privacy, large properties, family connection and a close enough proximity to London.
There are plenty of smaller villages and towns around this area that they could end up near. It also places them in a convenient region to access a lot of the different areas in England that they have close ties to.
Surrey
While a lot of speculation would put them in the Cotswolds region, another viable choice could be Surrey. It is an area rich with history, as well as plenty of towns popular with both the wealthy and celebrities.
There are lots of large properties and it is well away from anyone else. Not to mention that it puts the couple within an easy distance to London, an area with historic importance to the Royal Family.
