As Prince Harry and Meghan announce the birth of their second child to the world, we take a look at some of their incredible houses on both sides of the Atlantic. Since stepping back from official duties and making America their home, the coolest royal couple have relocated to a beautiful mansion in Montecito, Santa Barbara. Click or scroll on and let's explore the amazing home where they are raising Lili and Archie...
On Valentine's Day, the private couple announced that they were expecting their second child and on Friday 4 June 2021 their baby daughter Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California weighing 7 lbs 11 oz. Both mother and child are well, and settling in at their home in Montecito, a mega-mansion fit for an A-list family.
Harry and Meghan live in this stunning house which is only a six-minute drive from Oprah's Promised Land estate. In mid-June 2020, Meghan and Harry purchased their multimillion-dollar estate in Santa Barbara County for $14.7 million. Public documents reveal that the couple secured a $9.5 million mortgage for the private home.
The luxurious house was sold to them by Russian businessman Sergey Grishin, who bought the home in 2009 for $25.3 million. A stone's throw from the ocean, the laid-back neighborhood of Montecito is packed with A-listers, including Ellen DeGeneres, Kevin Costner and former Oprah guest, Tom Cruise. It is also just a two-hour drive from downtown Los Angeles and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland.
Built in 2003, the amazing American estate offers a grand total of nine bedrooms and 19 bathrooms. The country-style master suite features a wooden-beamed ceiling, an ensuite bathroom and access to a private balcony with an ivy-covered pergola.
Ideal for keeping two-year-old Archie amused, the extensive property also has a tea house and a children's cottage, as well as this elaborate play area that sits within the mansion's beautifully manicured grounds. Lili is going to love playing with her big brother here when she grows up!
The incredible backyard features a tiered rose garden, an alfresco terrace and a large swimming pool, flanked by picturesque olive trees and Italian cypress trees. A full-size tennis court and a detached guesthouse are also found across the estate, ideal for hosting family and friends.
Since formerly leaving their royal duties behind, California has been a safe haven for the young family. Last year, a spokesperson for the couple told The Independent: “They have settled into the quiet privacy of their community since their arrival and hope that this will be respected for their neighbors, as well as for them as a family.”
The couple have come a long way since they got engaged in November 2017. They announced their engagement in the Sunken Garden in the landscaped grounds of Kensington Palace in London – a favorite spot of Princess Diana's. The pair had already been spending plenty of time at the palace estate, where Harry lived in Nottingham Cottage. It was at Nottingham Cottage, previously the home of Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, where Harry popped the question. A refreshingly relaxed proposal, it happened while Harry was cooking a roast chicken during a cozy night in. The couple continued to live in Harry's quarters in Kensington Palace until they got married.
On 19 May 2018, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were married in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, where they were given the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The newly married couple had the ultimate royal wedding venue, with pictures taken in the beautiful Green Drawing Room and two receptions in St George's Hall and the Frogmore Estate.
The queen had an incredible wedding gift waiting for the royal couple on their wedding day. After gifting Prince William and Kate Middleton Anmer Hall on the Sandringham Estate, the Queen decided to bestow Frogmore Cottage upon Meghan and Harry, which would become their permanent home in the UK.
Home to many royals over the centuries and later divided into five properties, it was converted back into a large family home for Meghan and Harry at a reported cost of $3 million in 2019, an amount the couple have since repaid. They moved into Frogmore Cottage in April 2019 and it remains their official UK residence today, although according to Hello! magazine Harry and Meghan have allowed Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank to move in with baby August Philip Hawke Brooksbank while they are in the States.
In late November 2019, the new family spent six weeks in Canada for an extended Christmas break following their tour of South Africa. They soaked up the beauty of Vancouver Island in this $14 million holiday home. The impressive waterfront mansion in North Saanich, owned by a mystery multimillionaire, is located in one of the most picturesque parts of the large isle.
The dream island home comprises an array of opulent bedrooms, with access to two beautiful beaches with stunning views across the peninsula. The main house sprawls across 11,416 square feet and includes five bedrooms and eight bathrooms, a smaller 2,349-square-foot guest house accommodates the other three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The four-acre luxury gated property has its own stunning summer house and several acres of gorgeous gardens, so we can see why the couple chose this as their home for the holidays. To top it off, the amazing Canadian mansion overlooks the tranquil water below, making it the perfect scenic escape from the pair's busy lives in England.
Deciding not to head home for Christmas with the Queen and the rest of the royal family, the couple released this image of Harry and Archie spending time together on a stunning lakefront in Canada on their official Sussex Royal Instagram account. In January 2020, they announced they were stepping back as senior royals to become financially independent, revealing their plans to split their time between the UK and North America.
After their last official day as working royals on 31 March 2020, it was reported that the couple had relocated to Los Angeles. They decided to stay in a huge compound owned by actor and producer Tyler Perry, who they reportedly met through mutual friend Oprah. Tucked away in the Beverly Hills Post Office area of Los Angeles, the luxury mansion sits in the gated community of Beverly Ridge Estates.
The perfect place to stay with Archie while they hunted for a more permanent home, Meghan can be seen here reading him a story in one of the many gorgeous living areas. Just a few months later, they found their current house where they will raise Archie and Lili.
Having gone through some huge life changes including a relocation stateside, we can't wait to see what's next for Harry and Meghan and their growing family!
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