Meghan and Harry’s new vacation home in Portugal sparks outrage

They follow the sun. After settling in California, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have reportedly purchased a vacation home in the Melides region, Portugal. Located in Alentejo, an area renowned for its preserved landscapes and its tranquility, a new home would have caught the eye of the parents of Lilibet and Archie, following a love at first sight for the place in September 2023. However, their purchase would spark lively debates within the country, provoking indignation among part of the local population and fueling criticism.

The surge in real estate prices

As reported by Daily Express At the end of the week, Portugal became a country very popular with the ultra-rich, the latter having packed their bags in droves for several years. Locals thus regret the gentrification of certain sectors which inevitably leads to the surge in real estate prices and therefore the inaccessibility of goods or rentals for the middle classes. “The worst thing that could happen to the Portuguese coast, a typical situation of greed. Taking land and properties from residents who have been there for years, that’s all,” a certain Bradley McGuiness was indignant to the British daily. And another declared: “I am very upset by this immense plot of Portuguese land disfigured for the rich, removed from the average local who has been creating memories in this place for generations.”

Obviously, mass tourism is another black spot on the board. Many deplore the overpopulation at certain times of the year in this once calm and relaxing region. Also, residents would also be saddened by the privatization of certain beaches with restaurants now reserved for the rich, particularly towards the beaches of the Algarve. “I have been going to this place for years, I have camped there several times and, because of all this, it is no longer possible,” continues Diana Queiroz, a local, with the Daily Express. While it was previously illegal to restrict access to public beaches, this change in protocol further exacerbates anger. In this wake, a final criticism is made regarding the economic and ecological impact of these acquisitions, used for the most part as secondary homes and often occupied for only half of the year.

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In any case, after their installation in California, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are on the move and seem to have put their suitcase in the Melides, also called… “Portuguese California”.