Prince Harry's Portugal purchase stirs coastal controversy
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle purchased luxurious property in Portugal. The beachfront residence is intended to be their enclave and European home. However, the residents of Comporta do not agree with this decision, and they have valid reasons.
Prince Harry and his wife moved to the United States several years ago, but the couple never ended the ties that had connected them to Europe. The prince maintains contact with extended family and regularly visits his homeland. Until now, during trips, he had to stay in a hotel.
However, he has found a way to feel more comfortable and purchased a property. He did not choose the United Kingdom and, on the advice of friends, invested in a luxurious home on the Atlantic Ocean coast. It is located in Comporta, Portugal, near the CostaTerra resort.
Unfortunately, Prince William's younger brother did not choose the best moment, and his purchase angered the local community. The "Daily Mail" reports that locals have recently been protesting against a new law established by the Portuguese authorities. Previously, access to the beach could not be restricted, but the new regulations allow for such a possibility.
The area where Princess Diana's son is to reside with his family is particularly contentious. Critics point out that the millionaires residing there will fence off private beaches, preventing people from walking freely along the shoreline.
Bradley McGuiness, Prince Harry's future neighbour, voiced his opinion on the matter. He did not hide his anger on social media and believed that the new law was "the worst thing to happen to the Portuguese coast."
Taking land and property from locals who have been enjoying it for years - he wrote on his profile.
Andre Andrade, another resident of Comporta, also does not support the idea that the large piece of Portuguese land will be "destroyed for the rich, removed from the average local that had been creating memories in this place for generations and generations."
Harry and Meghan can always return to the United Kingdom
Protests are intensifying, so the royal couple can hardly expect cheers and cordiality when they arrive at their new European villa. It is also possible that protesting Portuguese residents will demonstratively invade their privacy by entering the closed beach area.
If life in Comporta turns out to be too challenging for them, they can always take advantage of King Charles III's standing offer and return to one of the villas in the less sunny but more welcoming United Kingdom. Judging by the animosities, they are unlikely to decide to do so.
