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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly looking to purchase a mansion in Malibu now that their exit from the royal family is official. The pair recently flew to Los Angeles after spending months in Canada and it appears as though California has always been their ideal landing spot. With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex starting the next chapter in their lives, here is why one royal expert believes they picked Malibu.

Meghan Markle Prince Harry
Prince Harry whispers to Meghan Markle | Ben Birchall – WPA Pool / Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle move to Malibu

After spending months in a rental home on Vancouver Island, Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, recently moved to LA to set up a second home base. As part of their exit plan, the Sussexes are going to split their time between North America and the UK.

Prince Harry and Meghan have not commented on their housing plans, but sources claim that they are now staying in a Malibu mansion worth $20 million.

According to Express, royal expert Charlie Lankston revealed that the couple picked Malibu because they did not want to be in the center of Los Angeles. Instead, they wanted to have access to everything in the area without being in the thick of Hollywood.

“Sources have told us that Meghan and Harry are staying in a $20 million mansion in Malibu,” Lankston shared. “Now, this is interesting for a number of reasons. Malibu is nicely out of the way, it’s not right in the middle of LA, they’re not going to get that Hollywood, over the top lifestyle which I’m sure the two of them are not looking forward to getting involved into whatsoever.”

While living in luxurious Malibu seems like an ideal landing spot for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, there is another reason why the city is close to Harry’s heart.

The Sussexes pay tribute to Princess Diana

Princess Diana was dating a man named Dodi al-Fayed when a tragic accident took her and al-Fayed’s life in the summer of 1997. Two months before the accident, al-Fayed bought a home in Malibu with the intention of living with Diana.

As Lankston pointed out, this would have put Diana in a home close to where Harry and Meghan are currently house hunting.

“We know that Dodi had purchased property in the very same area and sources told us Princess Diana was very much planning to move in with him had their life not ended so tragically and so early,” Lankston noted.

We do not know if Diana had anything to do with Prince Harry and Meghan’s decision to move to Malibu, but it would certainly be a sweet tribute to his late mother.

Prior to their move to California, the Sussexes spent several months in Canada. Although they enjoyed their time on Vancouver Island, Lankston does not believe they ever planned on settling there permanently.

Instead, the royal expert says that Harry and Meghan were always eying LA for their second home. And there are several reasons why Hollywood was their top choice.

Meghan Markle has ties to LA

One reason Prince Harry and Meghan picked Malibu was so the former Suits star could be closer to her mother, Doria Ragland. It is also where Meghan grew up and where she got her start in Hollywood.

“Meghan’s family is from LA, her mother, who she is very close to, lives just outside the main Los Angeles City area,” Lankston explained.

LA also offers the Sussexes more opportunities to build their brand and earn a living for themselves. As part of their plan to become financially independent from the crown, the two will need to find a way to fund their various ventures.

This includes paying for security while they live in America. Experts believe this could cost the couple millions every year, so finding suitable careers is very important for Harry and Meghan in the coming months.

What’s next for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry?

While we wait to see what Harry and Meghan do next, the royal family will re-examine the details of their exit in 12 months. This means that some of the stipulations in the exit plan could change, opening the door for some important adjustments.

With their departure now official, Prince Harry and Meghan can no longer use their royal titles in public. This has put an end to their main charitable foundation, Sussex Royal, as well as the name of their popular Instagram account.

Depending on how the royals feel next year, there is a chance that Harry and Meghan will regain the use of some of their titles. This is especially true regarding Harry’s military titles, which were suspended in light of Megxit.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not commented on the reports surrounding their decision to leave the royal family. The Sussexes are currently in self-isolation in California as the world continues to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

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