Locals in Portugal are protesting against the latest real estate purchase by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, viewing it as an indication of diminishing public access to the beloved coastline.
The extravagant acquisition by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the exclusive CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club in Melides has intensified the existing friction between affluent newcomers and the residents who have lived there for a long time.
Previous Portuguese laws forbade limitations on public access to beaches. However, recent amendments to the law now permit certain areas to be classified as private, sparking an uproar among the local populace.
Bradley McGuiness, a Melides resident, blasted the development as a major setback for the Portuguese coast and an act of greed, accusing it of usurping land and property from long-term inhabitants. Another resident expressed dissatisfaction with the posh new compound, regretting the significant part of Portuguese land now owned by the wealthy, displacing common locals who have created memories there for generations.
Diana Queiroz, a fellow local, stated that she had been visiting the area and camping there for years but is now unable to do so due to the new development.
The 722-acre beachfront development, with properties beginning at $4.7 million, signifies a drastic alteration in local land use. Local councils have marked certain beaches as private, effectively barring public access to portions of coastline that residents had freely enjoyed for decades.
The Discovery Land Company, established by multimillionaire Mike Meldman, is set to develop 300 luxury homes. The residents have dubbed it a “typical greed situation,” alleging it has taken away their traditional access to natural regions.
The local business community also voiced its disapproval of the wealthy enclave. A seafood restaurant owner remarked, “The rich from the resorts don’t eat with the poor,” underscoring the widening social divide.
A local real estate agent downplayed the Sussexes’ influence on the area, stating they have “much richer and much more famous people buying here” and that the couple will have “zero impact” on the community.
The Sussexes’ new property purchase follows their 2023 eviction from Frogmore Cottage in Windsor by King Charles. Their new Portuguese property is located near a home owned by Princess Eugenie, Harry’s cousin, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, who is engaged in marketing and sales for the development company.
Real estate industry observers suggest the purchase could assist the couple in obtaining a “Golden Visa,” allowing visa-free access to the Schengen area of the European Union. The property supplements their existing real estate holdings, which include their primary residence in Montecito, California, valued at $19.5 million.
