Royal sources claim that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s UK return has caused more concern than excitement. This is especially the case in the North Cotswolds, where they are reportedly house hunting. The Sussexes arrived in the UK on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, and will reside in a non-royal accommodation.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s potential Cotswolds neighbors are wary of the attention their move could bring
Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield told Page Six that North Cotswolds residents are not particularly excited about the Sussexes’ arrival in the area. This comes after it was reported that the couple had been home-hunting in the region.
She explained, “The Cotswolds can be incredibly welcoming to high-profile people because there’s an unwritten agreement: ‘You don’t make a spectacle of yourself, and neither will we.”
Despite residents being accustomed to being around wealthy individuals, the arrival of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seems like an unusual situation to them. Schofield was told by an insider that the neighborhood is used to famous people but isn’t impressed by fame.
One example they cited was that of celebrity residents such as David Beckham and Ellen DeGeneres. Locals often come across them without making a big deal about it. “But my sources also describe the area as strongly royalist, which makes Harry and Meghan’s arrival somewhat different from that of a typical celebrity,” she said.
She claimed that the advice that the locals want the royal couple to follow is to keep a low profile and settle into the community quietly. The source added, referring to locals’ blunt message to the Sussexes, “Shut up for at least eight months!” and “Harry needs to respect the community.”
The source suggests that the locals want them to be “incredibly boring.” They added, “There’s a sense of, ‘Please don’t bring the circus here. These people are used to celebrities. Harry and Meghan are different because wherever they go, the headlines tend to follow.”
The royal expert believes that there’s a chance for the Sussexes to change the locals’ perception of them. However, it would require them to show restraint. This is because one cannot expect privacy from a community while continuing to draw attention.
