Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s UK Return Leaves Cotswolds Locals Wary: “Don’t Bring the Circus Here”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to the UK may not be receiving the warm welcome they expected.

As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly search for a new home in the North Cotswolds, some locals are said to be feeling more cautious than excited about the couple potentially joining their community.

Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield told Page Six that the area’s residents are “not overly excited” about the Sussexes’ possible arrival.

The Cotswolds are no strangers to famous residents. But according to Schofield, the community has an unspoken understanding with celebrities: keep a low profile, and locals will do the same.

“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. She noted that residents could encounter celebrities such as Liam Gallagher at a local pub without making a fuss.

She added that stars including David Beckham and Ellen DeGeneres have reportedly enjoyed living in the area because locals generally “don’t bat an eyelid” at their presence.

But Harry and Meghan may be viewed differently because of their royal background and the intense media attention that frequently follows them.

Locals Have One Message for Harry

Schofield said one source familiar with the community believes locals simply want the Sussexes to settle in quietly.

“The advice from locals is essentially that Harry should keep a low profile and allow the family to settle quietly into the community,” she said.

One particularly blunt message reportedly summed up the sentiment: “Shut up for at least eight months!”

Schofield also suggested that Harry and Meghan should be “incredibly boring” while getting accustomed to life in the area.

“There’s a sense of, ‘Please don’t bring the circus here,’” she said, explaining that the couple are different from other celebrities because “wherever they go, the headlines tend to follow.”

However, the royal commentator believes the couple could still change the way locals view them.

That, she suggested, would require restraint and a willingness to respect the community’s desire for privacy.

“You cannot ask a community to protect your privacy while simultaneously generating headlines that bring attention to their doorstep,” Schofield said.

Why Are Harry and Meghan Moving Back?

Reports that Harry and Meghan were searching for a home in the Cotswolds emerged earlier this month.

Royal commentator Tom Sykes previously told Page Six that he had heard Harry was considering a property in the area, potentially close to Highgrove, the Gloucestershire residence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Harry has strong personal ties to the region, having grown up nearby and reportedly sharing happy memories of the area with his father and brother.

The couple are reportedly returning to the UK for an extended period after spending the past six years living in California.

Their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, are also expected to begin school in the UK.

Sources have said one motivation behind the move is allowing the children to spend more time closer to their grandfather, King Charles III, particularly following the monarch’s cancer diagnosis in 2024.

Harry and Meghan recently arrived in Britain after reportedly chartering a six-figure private jet. They have also quietly left their $14 million Montecito mansion.

Now, as the Sussexes look toward a new chapter in the UK, they may have one major challenge ahead: convincing their potential new neighbors that they can become part of the community without bringing the royal drama with them.