Duke and Duchess of Sussex move into new Cotswolds home, reports say

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly moved into their new home in the Cotswolds, ending the couple’s search for a permanent base in the UK.

The Sussexes had been staying in the main house on a businessman friend’s estate while they conducted their search, a source told the Daily Mail.

But the newspaper reports they have now found their new long-term home in a different property on the estate, although the exact location has not been disclosed.

"They were living in the main house," a friend of the businessman said. "They have now moved to a property on the estate."

The pair moved back to the UK in August after spending six years in California raising their two children Archie, seven , and Lillibet, five. The children are now attending school in the UK, but had to move from their first choice over security concerns.

Reports suggest the couple will keep hold of their £19.5m California home, which boasts a gym, swimming pool, cinema, wine cellar, and 13 bathrooms.

The duchess is also expected to temporarily relocate to Australia next year for the filming of Junior Masterchef, which she is set to co-host.

A source told News.com.au that her husband, the Duke of Sussex, alongside their children Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, may travel to visit her, although nothing has been confirmed.

The culinary competition, which features child cooks, is slated to be produced in Melbourne, it was reported.

Harry has fought a long-running battle with Britain's government for the restoration of publicly funded police protection, which was canceled when the couple gave up their royal roles in 2020.

He had previously said he couldn’t “see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK” without a security guarantee.

The Sussexes were reported to be looking for a property in the Cotswolds with lots of land, no public rights of way, and at least nine bedrooms.

It comes after police in the Philippines launched an investigation into Meghan’s father Thomas Markle over an alleged stash of child sex abuse images.

Meghan was left “deeply distressed” at the allegations and revealed she was sent a letter via the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection seven years ago which made “troubling and disturbing allegations” about her father, but that she was given assurances these were being investigated.

The Metropolitan Police has admitted it never shared the details with other law enforcement agencies, with the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), now investigating the force’s conduct.

The duchess had wanted to “speak out” immediately after reading the letter, but police advised her against this, sources said.

Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018, when he was caught staging paparazzi images in the lead-up to her wedding to Prince Harry.