The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly secured a non-royal home outside of London as they prepare to return to Britain with their children. While the exact location remains under wraps, the couple's search could be shaped by far more than bedrooms, price and postcode, according to property expert Cal Graham, who has worked with high-profile buyers.
Privacy as the top priority
Graham believes the couple's search is likely to be shaped by their overriding concern for privacy. This means Harry and Meghan's new UK home may not have a famous postcode, or even look particularly impressive from the road, opting for one that looks "relatively unremarkable" from the outside.
Assessing the couple's needs, she revealed seven features their new home could possess.
Seven features of their potential home
1. It may look surprisingly ordinary – The ideal property could look "relatively unremarkable" from the outside, since an understated property is more likely to fly under the radar. Graham said discretion from the outside could be "more valuable than architectural grandeur", while hiding plenty of space and privacy within its boundaries.
2. Renting instead of buying – Buying leaves a paper trail in the UK – even if you try and do it through a company – so privately renting may offer Harry and Meghan a "faster and more discreet" route to living in the UK, Graham said, while giving the couple time to work out whether they like the area.
3. Not likely to be on Rightmove – She believes the Sussexes will opt for an off-market home, since this would "dramatically reduce" the number of people who knew the property was even available, to help bolster its privacy. Even if the public has scoured Rightmove and Zoopla in the Cotswolds – reportedly a favoured area of the couple – the property may never have reached the public domain.
4. Privacy could beat a prestigious postcode – Reports suggest the family will live outside London, but an exclusive postcode alone may not satisfy their requirements. For Harry and Meghan, "what surrounds the property will be just as important as the house itself", since they could still feel exposed if they live near busy public areas, or near overlooking neighbours.
5. May be on a managed estate – Rather than taking on a vast country home, the couple could opt for a private, professionally managed estate, offering discretion without the burden of running a huge property. It could simply be "more practical" than an isolated historic mansion requiring a large team and constant upkeep.
6. Needs to function as a headquarters – Having worked with high-profile buyers who want homes that function as private workplaces, she believes the Sussexes will be no different, with Meghan running her business and Harry maintaining his charitable commitments. Their home may therefore require private offices and flexible rooms for meetings, staff or visiting family rather than simply an abundance of bedrooms.
7. No public evidence – If the property was sourced privately, never listed online and handled through intermediaries, their new UK home could remain a mystery until the Sussexes decide to reveal it themselves.
Absence of clues
"The biggest clue may ultimately be the absence of clues. If the property was sourced privately, never marketed online and rented through a discreet intermediary, the public may learn very little about it until the family chooses to say more," she said.
