Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly considering a return to the United Kingdom's Cotswolds region, an area renowned for its picturesque rural landscape and its appeal to a host of celebrities and members of the royal family. This potential move would see the couple trading their current home in Montecito, California, for a new chapter in England.
The Cotswolds, characterized by its honey-colored villages, thatched cottages, and rolling hills, offers a different setting than Montecito's sprawling gated mansions. However, both locations share a notable commonality: a high ratio of celebrities to the general population, suggesting a deliberate choice by the Duke and Duchess.
Many famous figures, including Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, the Beckhams, Kate Moss, Liam Gallagher, Jeremy Clarkson, and Damien Hirst, call the Cotswolds home. The area is also frequented by royal relatives such as Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Zara Tindall. King Charles III, Prince Harry's father, has a residence, Highgrove, in the area near Tetbury. This estate was reportedly the site of a recent private reunion between the King and the Duke and Duchess, a meeting that may have influenced their decision to return to the UK.
Should Harry and Meghan relocate to the Cotswolds, they would be joining a community of notable figures. Several historic pubs in the region are known as popular gathering spots for these residents.
Notable Cotswolds Pubs and Their Patrons
The Tunnel House Inn, located in rural farmland approximately 15 minutes from Highgrove, was a favored spot for Prince Harry and his brother before their public falling out. The pub, a favorite with walkers, first closed in 2020 but was reopened in June after extensive renovations by local publican Peter Austen.
Carole Bamford, founder of Daylesford Organic, owns The Fox in Oddington, a pub described as being 'a million miles from a traditional Cotswolds pub.' It is a frequent haunt for Geri and Christian Horner.
The Swan Inn in Swinbrook, situated near the burial site of the Mitford family, is known to be a regular spot for former Prime Minister Lord David Cameron.
Dubbed the 'poshest pub in Britain' upon its opening in 2013, The Wild Rabbit in Kingham is owned by Lady Bamford. David and Victoria Beckham have been seen dining there, as has Kate Moss. The venue is also scheduled to host a DJ set by Pete Tong in November.
Another historic establishment, The Killingworth Castle in Wootton, dating back to 1637, has been visited by Winston Churchill. Today, it attracts Formula 1 stars like Jenson Button and George Russell, alongside Geri and Christian Horner.
The Falkland Arms in Great Tew was reportedly a focal point of excitement when Beyoncé and Jay-Z considered purchasing a nearby estate. The pub has also hosted Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Television producer John Lloyd reportedly conceived the quiz show QI at its bar.
Prue Leith, a former contestant on The Great British Bake Off, is a fan of The Bull in Charlbury, a 16th-century gastropub. The pub is also frequented by Robbie Williams, Ellen DeGeneres, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, and Jeremy Clarkson. A local favorite drink is Steady Rolling Man pale ale from DEYA Brewery.
Queen Camilla has been known to lunch at The Bell at Charlbury, a 17th-century coaching inn also part of the Daylesford empire.
The Woolpack Inn in Slad, overlooking the valley popularized by Laurie Lee, is known for its unpretentious atmosphere and frequent sing-alongs. Tom Parker-Bowles, a food critic and Queen Camilla's son, is a regular patron.
The reported consideration of a move back to the Cotswolds by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle places them in an area with a long-standing appeal to both royalty and Hollywood A-listers.