Where is Harry and Meghan’s summer getaway? From a ‘second home’ in Portugal to a sentimental French villa, all the places the couple could be hiding out as they ‘holiday in Europe’ while UK visit hangs in the balance

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are currently said to be holidaying in Europe with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet… but which country is hosting their summer trip?

Given their history of enjoying a European vacation, there are a number of recurring destinations that Montecito-based Meghan Markle and Prince Harry might have chosen to take their kids to.

Options include Portugal, where the Sussexes reportedly bought a second property near Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank.

Also on the list is Southern France, which undoubtedly brings back happy memories of staying at a private villa in luxurious Nice shortly after the birth of their son in 2019.

Following his travels, Harry will be in the UK early next month as the countdown begins for the Invictus Games in Birmingham, and he had planned to bring Meghan and their two children with him.

However, in June 2022, Queen Elizabeth II. It is unclear whether Archie and Lilibet, who have not seen their grandfather since their last trip to England to celebrate Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, will come to visit with their father.

Harry is said to be furious that his request for a review of police protections was rejected at the ’11th hour’. He reportedly blamed his father’s aides (the so-called ‘men in gray suits’), with whom their relationship was strained.

But in the meantime, there’s no doubt the family is enjoying the time they spend with their children. Below, the Daily Mail explores potential destinations…

The couple are said to have taken their children with them – Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet (taken earlier this year).

Lake Como

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have enjoyed a stay at George Clooney’s Villa Oleandra (pictured) on Lake Como in 2018

Picture: Amal and George Clooney at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for Meghan and Harry’s wedding in 2019

Meghan and Harry may have opted to enjoy an Italian getaway after staying with George and Amal Clooney at the A-list couple’s private Lake Como retreat in 2018.

Local police helped organize a major operation to ensure newlyweds from the then-royal family stayed safe during their visit to the 18th-century Villa Oleandra, according to Italian media reports.

Clooney, who was among the stars at the couple’s wedding in Windsor, and his human rights lawyer wife Amal were at the villa with their twins Alexander and Ella.

While Meghan was helping care for the couple’s twin babies, Harry and George were playing basketball with other friends, according to Italian magazine Chi.

One evening of the Sussexes’ trip, Clooney hosted a gala dinner for his celebrity guests. It was stated that the party attended by approximately 15 friends continued until the morning hours.

Clooney, 65, fell in love with Italy and bought the villa in the village of Laglio in 2002.

At the time, the actor paid £10 million (€11.7 million) for Villa Oleandra, which had 25 rooms, an open-air theatre, a swimming pool and a garage to accommodate all his motorbikes.

The luxury property also features a tennis court, a fully equipped gym, landscaped gardens, ornately carved ceilings, huge bathrooms, a separate ‘pizza room’ and a wall to prevent the lake from flowing directly into the house.

Lake Como is known for its expensive celebrity homes, and one of Clooney’s neighbors is said to be famous fashion designer Donatella Versace.

Clooney’s presence led the local council to approve a special ordinance aimed at protecting the Hollywood star’s privacy.

Portugal

Princess Eugenie with her husband Jack Brooksbank and sons August and Ernest. The family has been splitting their time between England and Portugal since 2022

Just an hour’s drive from Lisbon, the beaches of Melides (pictured, stock image) are sandy and stretch for 64 km.

There may be more than 3,000 miles between the Hamptons and Melides in Portugal; But these two holiday destinations have more in common than gorgeous beaches.

So they both count Meghan and Harry among their A-List fans.

In 2024, reports emerged that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had purchased a £6.3 million property in Melides; where they had a five-night romantic getaway in 2023.

Once a small fishing town, this exclusive enclave has been dubbed the ‘Hamptons of Portugal’, thanks to its A-List residents, including Gisele Bunchen and Prince Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie.

Unsurprisingly, Europe’s resort hub is brimming with the kind of amenities these residents can easily find in the Hamptons; including a world-class spa, art galleries, and restaurants run by renowned chefs.

Over the years the area has been compared to St Tropez in the 1960s for its secluded beaches, said to be ideal for Prince Harry’s surfing hobby.

Like the Hamptons, the beaches of Melides, just an hour’s drive from Lisbon, are sandy and stretch for 40 miles.

in 2022 Conde Nast Traveler Melides was dubbed ‘Portugal’s next big seaside town’ during new club openings.

Meanwhile luxury hotel website Mr and Mrs Smith He also raved about the ‘happy’ location.

It read: ‘You’ve got miles of desert beaches to play on, untouched nature areas to bike or tour, and tiny villages to stop for fresh-as-you-go seafood.’

According to local newspaper Olive PressHouse prices in Melides increased by 150 percent in the first quarter of 2023 as celebrities flocked to the area.

Christian Louboutin has strengthened its position as a celebrity-approved destination by opening its five-star hotel Vermelho in Portugal’s up-and-coming region in 2023.

Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have owned a property at CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club in Melides since 2022.

Jack Brooksbank works in marketing and sales for CostaTerra. He, Eugenie and their two sons, August and Ernest, divided their time between Portugal and London.

Ibiza

For her 38th birthday, Meghan jetted off to a £108,000-a-week villa with a 50-metre infinity pool in Ibiza (pictured: stock footage of Ibiza)

Meghan celebrated her 38th birthday in 2019 at a luxury £108,000-a-week villa in Ibiza with a 50-metre infinity pool.

Meghan, Harry and Archie enjoyed a six-day stay at the Sa Calma villa on the exclusive Vista Alegre estate. It is located near the picturesque village of Es Cubells on the southwestern coast of the island.

The seven-bedroom property the Sussexes enjoyed in Ibiza boasted a sea-facing pool as well as a gym, jacuzzi, an office and large garden terraces.

Visitors are provided with a house manager, a waiter, live-in carers, cleaning staff, a chauffeured Range Rover and a night security guard.

Yacht charters, beauticians, bartenders, nannies, masseurs, personal trainers and yoga instructors are available upon request.

Despite the army of local staff, the couple are understood to have brought their own chef when they arrived by private jet on August 6 that year, according to a source at the complex.

The three-storey villa has stunning views of Porroig Bay, where superyachts regularly dock, and access to Sa Caixota beach.

Advertised as being available to rent for up to £108,000 a week in peak season, the villa is modern with carved wooden tables and chairs.

Previous guests have included Sir Paul McCartney and DJ David Guetta, and a local said the Vista Alegre resort was ‘full of the rich and famous’.

At the time, the Sussexes were said to have rejected the late Queen Elizabeth’s invitation to holiday with her at Balmoral in favor of Ibiza.

It is understood the royal couple thought Archie was still too young to go to Scotland.

Her Majesty always asked her family to join her when she traveled to her Scottish estate for a two-month summer holiday.

A source told Sun: ‘Harry and Meghan had no plans to go to Balmoral this summer because they thought Archie was too young.

‘It’s a bit strange because his age didn’t stop them taking him to Ibiza for a week and then to see Elton John in France.

‘If they want privacy or protection, and there is no more protected or private holiday destination than the Queen’s home in Scotland.’

Beautiful, Southern France

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have visited Elton John’s French villa in Nice (pictured) in 2019

Picture: Harry and Meghan chat with Elton John at the European premiere of The Lion King in London on July 14, 2019

Shortly after their trip to Ibiza, Meghan and Harry flew to Nice, courtesy of Sir Elton John, who paid for flights to and from his £15 million mansion.

Photos of the royal couple and three-month-old Archie show the family boarding a Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign jet that arrived in France three days ago.

During their holiday on the French Riviera, the couple visited the magnificent Castel Mont-Alban home, owned by Sir Elton John and husband David Furnish, overlooking the Promenade des Anglais.

According to The Sun, the singer’s home, which has views of the bay and the Alps, has been used by many celebrities, including Victoria Beckham.

The villa also has a magnificent swimming pool, and Andy Warhol’s paintings serve as decoration inside.

Shortly after their trip, the singer revealed on social media that Harry and Meghan had ensured their flight to and from the French Riviera was carbon neutral by making an ‘appropriate contribution’ to the carbon footprint fund.

His intervention came after the royal couple found themselves embroiled in a hypocrisy row after they were photographed leaving the south of France on their fourth trip by private jet in 11 days, despite being outspoken on environmental issues at the time.