According to Express.co.uk, residents of Comporta in Portugal are expressing frustration after their coastline has become exclusive to wealthy property owners, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly purchased a new holiday home, originally divulged by the Daily Mail.

The newspaper reports that new regulations now allow local councils to designate certain beaches as “private” leading to the closure of beloved natural spots, which locals once freely enjoyed.

Local, Bradley McGuiness told Express.co.uk, “Worst thing to happen to the Portuguese coast, typical greed situation. Taking land and property from locals who have been enjoying it for years."

Adding to this comment was local André Andrade who expressed "I am very upset by this massive piece of Portuguese land destroyed for the rich, removed from the average local that had been creating memories in this place for generations and generations."

Another local, Diana Queiroz, stated "I have been going to this place for years, camped there several times and, because of this company, this is no longer possible."

Diário de Notícias recently shared that the purchase of the house in Portugal may have allowed the couple to obtain Golden visas, under which they will be able to access the Schengen area, an attraction for US citizen Meghan Markle.

Further sharing that, the couple are not the only British royals to own property in Portugal, as Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank own a home at CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club, a luxury 300-property beachfront development in Melides, where the couple and their two sons split their time between Portugal and London.

Last year it was reported that Harry and Meghan had enjoyed a “romantic three-night break” in Melides.

José Santos, president of Turismo do Alentejo, confirmed that the Sussexes had a “short stay” at CostaTerra. “We have no idea how many people linked to cinema, royalty, the arts, design and fashion visit us, precisely because they value discreet travel, something they find in Alentejo like nowhere else in Europe,” he said.


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