Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to the UK is already making some locals “more wary than excited” about the prospect of their arrival.
Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield exclusively told Page Six that the “chattering class” of the North Cotswolds — where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly house hunting — are “not overly excited.”
“The Cotswolds can be incredibly welcoming to high-profile people because there’s an unwritten agreement: ‘You don’t make a spectacle of yourself, and neither will we,” Schofield explained.
And while they are used to celebrities living in the posh countryside enclave, this situation feels “strange” for them.
“The irony is that Harry and Meghan are moving to a place that is accustomed to famous people… but completely unimpressed by fame,” Schofield said. “You can bump into Liam Gallagher at the local pub and nobody cares.”
The “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered” podcast host was told by an insider that celebrities who live in the area — including David Beckham and Ellen DeGeneres — enjoy the neighborhood because locals don’t “bat an eyelid” at their presence.
“But my sources also describe the area as strongly royalist, which makes Harry and Meghan’s arrival somewhat different from that of a typical celebrity,” Schofield explained.
She heard from one neighbor that the community doesn’t have time for the Sussexes.
“The advice from locals is essentially that Harry should keep a low profile and allow the family to settle quietly into the community,” Schofield said, adding, “One source put it rather colorfully: ‘Shut up for at least eight months!’ and ‘Harry needs to respect the community.’”
Schofield urged Harry and Markle to be “incredibly boring” as they settle into their new surroundings.
“There’s a sense of, ‘Please don’t bring the circus here.’” Schofield said. “These people are used to celebrities. Harry and Meghan are different because wherever they go, the headlines tend to follow.”
However, the royal expert believes there is an opportunity for Harry and Markle to “change the temperature” around them.
“But that requires restraint,” she said, adding, “You cannot ask a community to protect your privacy while simultaneously generating headlines that bring attention to their doorstep.”
Page Six exclusively reported last week that Markle and Harry had been house hunting in the Cotswolds.
“I was told by a friend of Harry‘s earlier this year that he was going to go house hunting and potentially in the Cotswolds near Highgrove,” royal commentator Tom Sykes told Page Six last week, referring to King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s Highgrove House residence.
“Obviously, that’s where he grew up, living with his father and brother there, and has happy memories,” Sykes added.
News broke earlier this month that Harry and the As Ever founder were moving back to the UK for an “extended period” after living in California for six years.
Sources told Page Six that the couple wanted to move back to England so their kids — Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5 — could be closer to King Charles III, who revealed his cancer battle in 2024.
Markle and Harry touched down in the UK last Wednesday after chartering a private jet for six figures after quietly moving out of their $14 million Montecito mansion.
Insiders told us that the “Spare” author, 41, and his wife, 45, were getting help from British hedge fund billionaire Ian Wace for their move.
The couple has been estranged from royal family members ever since they fled the UK in 2020 after quitting their royal duties — opting to settle in Montecito with their two kids.
However, Charles and his youngest son have been mending their relationship in recent months — though Harry still remains on the outs with Prince William.
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