Harry’s $28 million mansion for Meghan
A palace for his princess
Talk about Prince Charming! Romantic royal Prince Harry surprised his girlfriend Meghan Markle by flying halfway around the world to be by her side for one night only, leaving the Suits star close to tears.
But it wasn’t just the fact that Harry, fresh from touring the Caribbean, had added an extra 3000km to this trip by jetting into Toronto on his way back home to London that had the actress so emotional.
Insiders tell Woman’sDay that while he was in Canada, the prince, 32, pledged to buy Meghan, 35, her very own mansion in her hometown of Los Angeles, near where her parents, close friends and family live.
It’s thought that Harry is just days away from putting a deposit on Reese Witherspoon’s home in Pacific Palisades, which she recently put on the market for $28 million.
The LegallyBlonde actress bought the mansion two years ago and has since renovated it extensively, making it the perfect US love nest for Meghan and her man.
The five-bedroom, fivebathroom property is in an incredibly private part of the neighbourhood – a necessity as far as Harry is concerned – and Meghan would call Jennifer Garner, Tom Hanks, Matt Damon and Steven Spielberg her neighbours.
“It is very hidden away from prying eyes and has its own private guardhouse for security,” discloses an insider, revealing that Harry couldn’t wait to tell Meghan the news and show her photos of the house when he landed in Toronto, where she films Suits. “It’s not as big as the palaces that Harry has known all his life, but he’s very excited at the prospect of having a place he and Meghan can call home when they visit the States.”
While Harry and his girlfriend will ultimately settle down in Kensington Palace – where Meghan has already been assigned a room in which she can keep her things – Harry thinks it’s important that they have somewhere they can escape the royal rules and protocol of palace life.
Shackingup
“Harry is very protective of Meghan, which is why he is so keen that they have a place in LA,” our insider reveals. “He wants her to have a base near to her family and friends. Plus, Kensington Palace is like a goldfish bowl, which is why Kate and William moved to Norfolk.
“There are servants and courtiers, and Harry fears that it will be difficult for Meghan to deal with having eyes watching her every move. He knows full well what happened to his mother and he’s determined to shield Meghan from all of that.”
Meghan could barely hide her delight at Harry’s generous offer when she was spotted out and about in Toronto last week. Carrying flowers from the prince and wearing a sweet necklace featuring the couple’s initials, the actress looked like a woman deeply in love.
She was later spotted picking up groceries and party supplies at her local supermarket, with insiders telling Woman’sDay she had invited a small group of friends over to celebrate the big news.
Meanwhile, a friend of Harry’s reveals that the prince, who has spoken frequently of his desire to settle down and start a family of his own, has never been as smitten with anyone as he is with Meghan.
“Harry just couldn’t wait to see her,” his pal tells. “He was due to fly back to London on a British Airways flight with the rest of his entourage, but he changed his mind and diverted straight to see her as they couldn’t bear to be apart.
“It’s just another sign of how head-over-heels he is about her. He is absolutely besotted. We’ve never seen him so happy. It’s great!”