Portuguese residents are fighting back against Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s latest real estate acquisition, which exemplifies the erosion of public access to their cherished coastline.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s multi-million dollar purchase in the exclusive CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club has become a flashpoint for growing tensions between wealthy newcomers and longtime residents.
Portuguese law previously prohibited restrictions on public beach access. Recent changes now allow specific stretches to be designated as private, sparking outrage among locals.
Bradley McGuiness, a resident of Melides, described the situation as a significant setback for the Portuguese coast and an example of greed, criticizing the development for taking land and property from long-time residents. Another resident voiced frustration over the luxurious new compound, lamenting that a substantial area of Portuguese land had been claimed for the wealthy, displacing average locals who had created memories there for generations.
Diana Queiroz, another local, noted that she had visited the area for years and camped there on multiple occasions but could no longer do so due to the development.
The 722-acre beachfront development, where properties start at $4.7 million, represents a dramatic shift in local land use. Local councils have designated specific beaches as private, effectively cutting off public access to stretches of coastline that residents had freely enjoyed for decades.
Discovery Land Company, founded by multimillionaire Mike Meldman, will develop 300 luxury homes. Residents have labeled it a “typical greed situation” that has stripped away their traditional access to natural areas.
Even the local business community has expressed disdain for the wealthy enclave. “The rich from the resorts don’t eat with the poor,” one seafood restaurant owner said, highlighting the growing social divide.
A local real estate agent dismissed the royal couple’s impact on the area, saying they have “much richer and much more famous people buying here” and that the Sussexes will have “zero impact” on the community.
The Sussexes’ purchase follows their 2023 eviction by King Charles from Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Their new Portuguese property sits near a home owned by Harry’s cousin, Princess Eugenie, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, who works in marketing and sales for the development company.
Industry observers note the purchase could help the couple obtain a “Golden Visa,” providing visa-free access to the European Union’s Schengen area. The property adds to their real estate portfolio, which includes their $19.5 million primary residence in Montecito, California.