I keep saying this but it’s true: the story about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex buying a $4 million villa in Portugal is a hilariously positive story for them. It’s even funnier because the story originated in the Daily Mail, which is ground zero for Sussex-hate. The Mail has been trying to spin the story into something negative for Prince Harry and Meghan, suggesting that the Sussexes are desperate to be closer to the UK, or that they’re over Montecito or whatever. But the villa story blows up the larger narrative in the British tabloids: that the Sussexes are broke failures who are on the verge of crawling back to the UK. Now the tabloids are like, gulp, the Sussexes are rich enough to afford a second home in Portugal? And it’s just an investment property for them??? LOL.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s new Portuguese property is not a sign of the couple moving back closer to home, but the start of a multimillion pound property portfolio, it has been reported. The Daily Mail revealed last month that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had bought a home near Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie’s beachside property on the country’s west coast. Harry and Meghan visited Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, at the CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club, a luxury development of 300 properties by the sea in Melides, south of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, last year in a seemingly pivotal trip.

However, while many might have suspected their purchase since was a way to move back closer to the UK, The Sun reports it is the first part of a global property empire.

The California-based couple are looking to solidify their Netlix millions, having signed a five-year agreement with the streaming giant in 2020 worth an estimated $100million (£80million). It is not known whether the Sussexes plan to leave their new home empty to accrue value, or if it will be let out to tourists as an Airbnb-style holiday home.

A source told The Sun that the pair are hoping to be ‘smart’ with their millions as they continue to foot a vast security bill in the States. Insiders suggested that they plan to invest further in real estate in the coming years.

There, the Sussexes remain in their £19.5 million Tuscan-style mansion in Montecito with seven bedrooms, 13 and a half bathrooms, library, cinema, gym, pool and chicken coop.

[From The Daily Mail]

Incidentally, they keep talking about the Netflix contract ending next year, but I genuinely suspect that Netflix is going to renew their contract with the Sussexes. They have so many projects in development, it seems to me like Netflix wants to continue the partnership. As for Harry and Meghan having a real estate portfolio… sure. As I said, it’s a positive story for the Sussexes. They have money, they’re making smart investments, and they’re not going back to Slumlord Willy and Charles the Cruel.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.