FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE...
Harry and Meghan cosy up in oligarch’s £10m pad
HARRY and Meghan are seeing in the New Year at a mansion fit for a Czar – owned by a Russian businessman.
The £10million waterfront venue for their first festive break with baby Archie is said to be the property of a super-rich oligarch.
The royal couple are with Meghan’s mum Doria Ragland, 63, and their new female black Labrador.
One local in British Columbia, on Canada’s west coast, said: “It’s owned by a Russian businessman but he’s never around.”
Another said: “It’s an incredible property and one of the most prestigious around here.
“I wasn’t surprised when I found out Harry and Meghan are staying there. It’s certainly fit for royalty.”
Pizza
The pile features a two-storey galleried living room with a 17th century French fireplace, a gourmet kitchen with pizza oven, media room, games room and wet bar, and a wine tasting room.
Four acres of manicured gardens give access to a beach and spectacular views over the coast.
The grounds include a three-bed cottage, where the family’s royal protection team are staying.
An estate agency listing said: “This is more than a home, but a sanctuary for all those privileged enough to enter through the gates.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are understood to have arrived 11 days ago and are due to stay until January 3.
On Christmas Day, they dined in a private suite at a nearby resort.
An insider at the VIP venue – where the eco-conscious couple were spotted arriving in a parade of gasguzzling 4x4s – said: “High-end caterers were called to supply the lunch, which included vegetarian options, at the last minute.
“There were between 10 to 15 people in the suite, including several members of their security detail.
“There were a fleet of SUVS outside the resort at the time which the group had been using, including Range Rovers.
“And as well as security from England at the lunch, there were also members of the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police at the resort too.”
The source added: “During the lunch, talk turned to how they should go out for afternoon tea at a hotel about 40 minutes drive away.
“They wanted to go there, but it was thought to be too public at this time of year.”
Later the same day Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, were spotted taking seven-month-old Archie for a stroll in a nearby park.
The cost of the couple’s extensive security detail will be met by British taxpayers.
But it was not clear last night who paid the bill for the Christmas lunch or who is funding their festive break. The mansion is said to have a rental value of around £50,000 a month.
Harry and Meghan are set to throw a party there on New Year’s Day.
They are planning to feed their guests using the same private catering firm who cooked for them on Christmas Day.
They had wanted to spend the big day at a swanky restaurant but were forced to change their arrangements at short notice after the chef turned down their reservation due to the tight security needed.
The People is not revealing the location of the holiday home.