Buckingham Palace has finally confirmed that Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their seven-month-old Archie Mountbatten-Windsor are spending the holidays in Canada. Reports also indicate that the Sussexes stayed in a lavish mansion on Vancouver Island.
William and Meghan have been enjoying the last week of their hiatus from royal duties. The royal couple earlier announced that they will be taking a break from their royal responsibilities after admitted to a TV documentary that they have been struggling with living in a public eye.
The couple turned down the offer of Queen Elizabeth II to spend Christmas in Sandringham along with the other members of the royal family. Since then, the public has been speculating on where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be spending the holidays.
There have been rumors that it will be the U.S. or Canada. There were also speculations that the family could travel to Africa, where Meghan had said Archie enjoyed.
Harry and Meghan are believed staying in a luxurious waterfront mansion that is owned by a "mystery" billionaire. The palace confirmed that the Sussex spent their vacation in Canada. However, it couldn't confirm exactly where for security reasons.
Reports, however, indicated that locals spotted the couple on Vancouver Island on the country's west coast. They were reportedly seen jogging and relaxing on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.
The estate covers 11,416 square feet and comes with a three-bed guest cottage. The French country-inspired mansion has five bedrooms, two beaches, and eight bathrooms. When it was listed on Sotheby in 2012, the brokers' site noted the property also comes with a media room, wine-tasting room, and two-story living area.
In 2012, it was listed for £10.1 million ($14.1 million). It was reportedly sold a few years ago to a US-based billionaire.
A friend of a previous owner, 41-year-old Hsin Pai, told the publication that the estates used to be owned by a German actress. In 2010, it was bought by Bernadette Wolfswinkel, the ex-wife of disgraced Arizona property magnate Conley Wolfswinkel. Two years later, Wolfswinkel listed the property for $14.1 million.
Neighbors of the current billionaire owner noted that the property looks like being "cut off" from the world at the moment. Security cameras and fences were reportedly installed at the property as early as December 19, and the mansion is now packed with security personnel.
"It looks very cut off right now, it's not usually like that...By Christmas day it looked like Halloween... But there were massive amounts of people just 'walking their dogs'," the neighbor told Daily Mail.
