Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have reportedly left Canada for good to set up a permanent home in Los Angeles – and it’s likely affluent Malibu is top of their list.
Last night a royal insider claimed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to leave Vancouver Island – where they have been staying since announcing they were stepping down as senior royals in January – amid fears the US-Canada border could close due to coronavirus.
The Sussexes want to be close to ‘their new team of Hollywood agents and PRs’ as well as Meghan’s friends and mother Doria, the source told The Sun. They are now believed to be in lockdown in the Hollywood area with ten-month-old baby Archie.
So which neighborhood in the US city will the couple, who value seclusion and an outdoor lifestyle, decide on to set down permanent roots?
Harry and Meghan have reportedly left Canada for LA and are believed to want to rent a place similar to what they potentially could live in long term – and they’re eyeing up a Malibu mansion
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to stay at this sprawling Malibu mansion called Petra Manor to test out life in southern California
Malibu would certainly be a logical choice; it has one of the most expensive ZIP codes in the country and boasts a stunning coastline, should Harry and Meghan have got used to being by the water in Canada.
While it’s more than 50km from central LA, it’s a quiet, secluded place ideal for nature-loving celebrities looking for privacy. Its residents include the likes of Cindy Crawford, Courteney Cox, Leonardo DiCaprio, Steven Spielberg and Patrick Dempsey.
Earlier this month sources claimed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to rent a sprawling $20million Malibu mansion to get a feel for SoCal life post Megxit.
The huge eight bedroom, 10 bathroom property, called Petra Manor, costs a hefty $15,950 a night, but sources told DailyMailTV the couple is keen to sample Malibu before laying down any long term roots.
An aerial view of the home shows a tennis court that will keep Harry’s love of the game going as he settles into his new life
The recently renovated Italian style mansion sits in a secure gated community and boasts a swimming pool and cabana, jacuzzi and perfectly manicured grounds
Malibu offers seclusion as well as stunning beaches, should Harry and Meghan have got used to being by the water in Canada. Pictured: the ocean along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu
Stay Awhile Villas owner Stuart Heller wouldn’t confirm the couple had chosen the manor, but did say: ‘Stay Awhile Villas is often contacted by high profile families seeking to test neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles before making any move permanent.
‘This is the perfect property for anyone wanting to move to the area and Harry and Meghan will want to see if Malibu suits their lifestyle.
‘The house is a short term rental, many people come to Malibu looking for a home and they will rent somewhere first to see if it makes sense for them and their family.’
The house in question would be just 30 miles away from her Meghan’s Doria, 63, in the Windsor Hills. Malibu also offers the couple easy access to Hollywood as they field offers from film and television powerhouses such as Netflix and Disney.
Malibu also offers the couple easy access to Hollywood as the couple field offers from film and television powerhouses such as Netflix and Disney
According to the source, it wouldn’t make sense for Harry and Meghan to buy somewhere quickly as homes in Malibu ‘don’t come cheap’.
‘Harry and Meghan want to rent a place similar to what they potentially could live in long term, they want to try it out, see what the area is like and make a decision from there,’ they added.
Malibu is close to Megahn’s BFF Heather Dorak
Heather Dorak is one of Meghan’s best friends (pictured together)
Meghan’s Pilates instructor pal Heather Dorak has a studio in Santa Monica – less than a half an hour drive away from Malibu.
In January, while residing in Canada, the duchess was spotted driving to the Victoria International Airport on Vancouver Island to pick up mother-of-two Heather.
The pair have been friends 15 years, since Meghan’s early acting days in LA, and have celebrated marriage and babies together. So it would make sense that the duchess would want to be near to her as she brings up her son Archie.
‘A lot of families of their caliber moving to the area weigh up the benefits of living in Beverly Hills versus the west side, those are lifestyle decisions, they look at where their children will go to school, where their kids will learn to swim.
‘Meghan and Harry also have a staff and a security team to think about, all these things are a factor when looking at a new place to live.’
As well as the beach, Malibu has the backdrop of the Santa Monica Mountains, a United States National Recreation Area containing many individual parks and open space preserves. It’s the largest urban national park in the United States and the largest urban national park in the world.
Earlier this month a source told Us Weekly that Meghan has been enjoying daily two-hour long walks with Archie through the woods in Vancouver Island.
The insider added Meghan reportedly told friends she is ‘so happy to be out in nature’ and in their ‘secluded’ area.
In January Meghan was photographed taking 10-month-old Archie and her two dogs through the Horth Hill Regional Park near the opulent $14million Vancouver Island mansion they have used since American Thanksgiving last year.
Followed by two bodyguards, Meghan was wrangling her black Labrador Oz and beagle Guy while appearing to struggle to keep Archie in her baby carrier.
The Santa Monica Mountains could prove an ideal alternative for the couple’s daily hikes with Archie and their dogs.
In January, Malibu resident Caitlyn Jenner told Loose Women she had heard the Sussexes were looking for a home in the area.
The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star, 70, told the talk show panel that Harry and Meghan ‘probably had enough’ to take such a drastic step back from their royal duties, but added it must have been ‘very difficult’ for the actress.
Malibu is just 30 miles away from Meghan’s mom Doria, 63, who lives in Los Angeles
Asked what she thought will happen next for the royal couple, she said: ‘I can’t predict as I’ve tried to raise our royal family in the US. It was probably very difficult for Meghan, coming into the Royal Family.
‘It was a big shock to her, she’s probably had enough. Good for them, we’ll see how it goes. I heard they were looking for a house in Malibu. It must have been tough. Everyone deserves to be happy.’
Setting up in Malibu would mean they were close to nearby Santa Monica – where Meghan’s BFF Heather Dorak has a Pilates studio.
Santa Monica is also the home of several major entertainment empires, including Netflix and Hulu.
Setting up in Malibu would mean they were close to nearby Santa Monica – where Meghan’s BFF Heather Dorak has a Pilates studio
Celebrities that have palatial pads there include the Beckhams, Tom Cruise, Christian Bale and Sandra Bullock.
If the couple are really thinking ahead, the nearby Valley and East areas offer a number of top private schools popular among celebrities.
The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, San Fernando Valley, which charges tuition fees of $33,935 for K-6, is known for its strong academics and was attended by Paris Hilton, Laura Dern, Kim Kardashian and all three of Michael Jackson’s children.
There’s also Campbell Hall in Studio City, San Fernando Valley ($33,295 K-6), where Denzel Washington sends his kids, which is renowned for its nurturing and loving community.
What’s more, Southern California is a renowned spot for revered vineyards. Meghan is a big fan of red wine – she named her blog The Tig after Tignanello – so the option is there for the couple, who wish to become financially independent, to start their own winery, should they wish.
The Sussexes will officially step down as senior royals on March 31. Yesterday Meghans’ first gig after quitting the Firm was revealed – voicing a Disney documentary on elephants.
The couple promised to split their time between the UK and North America and have spent the past few months with baby Archie at a luxurious $18million waterside mansion on Vancouver Island in Canada
Her fee for the project is going entirely to the Elephants Without Borders charity – an organisation dedicated to conserving wildlife and helps protect the animals from poaching.
Meghan agreed to do the voiceover after a direct request from filmmakers, and it is understood that she recorded it in London this autumn after seeing footage of the documentary.
A trailer for Elephant failed to give fans a glimpse of Meghan’s narration – but it did reveal that the story follows a ‘family’s extraordinary 1,000 mile journey across Africa on an adventure that will change their lives’.
It comes after the Duke of Sussex, 35, was filmed touting his wife’s voiceover skills to Disney boss Bob Iger at the UK premier of Lion King in July.