The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured on holiday last year) have jetted abroad to a European destination
The couple are said to have taken their children – Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet (pictured earlier this year) – with them
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are once again at the centre of royal travel speculation, with reports suggesting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are currently spending part of their summer in Europe with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The Montecito-based couple have not publicly confirmed where they are staying, but their history of high-profile European escapes has prompted plenty of guessing. Portugal, Lake Como, Ibiza and the South of France are all being discussed as possible options, each carrying its own Sussex connection.
The timing is especially notable because Harry is expected to travel to the UK next month for engagements linked to the Invictus Games. Meghan and the children had been expected to join him, but uncertainty over security arrangements has left the family visit hanging in the balance.
Portugal: the possible second-home option
Portugal may be one of the strongest possibilities. Reports have previously claimed that Harry and Meghan purchased a property in Melides, an exclusive coastal area often described as the ‘Hamptons of Portugal’. The region is also linked to Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, who have spent time there with their two sons.
Melides offers the kind of privacy and relaxed luxury that would appeal to a family looking for quiet time away from the public eye. With long sandy beaches, stylish restaurants, art spaces and secluded coastal scenery, it has become a magnet for wealthy international visitors.
The connection to Eugenie is also significant. She has long been seen as one of Harry’s closest royal relatives, and Portugal would offer the Sussexes a European base with familiar family ties nearby
Lake Como: the A-list retreat
Another destination being discussed is Lake Como, where Harry and Meghan were said to have stayed with George and Amal Clooney shortly after their royal wedding. The Italian lakeside region is known for its celebrity villas, dramatic mountain views and discreet luxury.
The couple’s reported 2018 visit to the Clooneys’ Villa Oleandra placed them in one of Europe’s most glamorous private retreats. The area is also known for tight privacy measures around celebrity homes, making it an obvious candidate whenever the Sussexes are linked to a quiet European break.
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
Pictured: Amal and George Clooney at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, for the wedding of Meghan and Harry in 2019
Ibiza: the birthday escape
Ibiza is another past Sussex destination. Meghan previously celebrated her birthday on the island in 2019, staying with Harry and baby Archie in a luxury villa reportedly located on an exclusive estate.
That trip was remembered for its privacy, high-end setting and family focus. A return to Ibiza would offer sunshine, sea views and the type of secluded villa lifestyle that allows the Sussexes to keep a low profile while travelling with their children.
Meghan flew to a £108,000-a-week villa in Ibiza, featuring a 50-metre infinity pool, for her 38th birthday (pictured: Stock image of Ibiza)
Nice: a sentimental French Riviera link
The South of France also carries a personal connection. After their Ibiza trip in 2019, Harry and Meghan travelled to Nice, where they were said to have stayed at Sir Elton John’s French villa with Archie.
That holiday became widely discussed at the time because of the couple’s private jet travel and their public stance on environmental issues. Sir Elton later defended them, saying arrangements had been made to offset the flights. Despite the controversy, the destination remains one of the more sentimental European locations linked to the family.
Princess Eugenie with husband Jack Brooksbank and their sons August and Ernest. The family have been splitting their time between the UK and Portugal since 2022
The beaches in Melides (pictured, stock image) – which is only an hour’s drive from Lisbon – are sandy and can go on for 40 miles
A UK visit still unresolved
Beyond the holiday guessing game, the bigger question is whether Meghan, Archie and Lilibet will accompany Harry to Britain next month. The children have not been seen in the UK since Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022, and any return would draw major attention.
Harry has continued to raise concerns about security for his family while in Britain. According to recent reports, the situation remains unresolved, and no final decision has been publicly confirmed.
For now, the Sussexes appear to be using their European break as rare family downtime. But with Invictus-related events approaching and royal watchers waiting for clarity, their next move could become one of the most closely followed moments of the summer.
Pictured: Harry and Meghan chat with Elton John at the European premiere of the film The Lion King in London on July 14, 2019
