Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s £2.5m Cotswolds love nest owned by David Cameron’s property tycoon pal
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry's £2.5million Cotswolds love nest is owned by David Cameron's property tycoon pal.
The royal pair's country hideaway was revealed yesterday, after it was leased to them by millionaire Nicholas Johnston.
He rented out the four-bed converted farmhouse last year to the Duke and Duchess on a two-year lease,
And they have hosted a number of A-list pals including George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian plus Priyanka Chopra and her hubby Nick Jonas.
Meghan’s mum Doria Ragland has also visited the Grade II-listed country retreat, set in four acres of rolling Cotswolds hills.
Mr Johnston, an old Etonian who also bought an entire village in Devon a few years ago, reportedly upset locals with his redevelopment plans for his 4,000 estate.
A reported row over a nearby £130m motoring museum planned by an American philanthropist led to the businessman's renovations being stalled last year.
The Mail Online revealed some 250 objections over plans for 28 holiday lodges on the land were received before they were withdrawn.
Concerns over the lack of affordable homes on the proposed site caused criticism from locals such as Star Trek's Patrick Stewart.
Mr Johnston is said to have hoped the money from the project would fund an old manor house's restoration - the length of time taken to bring it back to life had caused upset with locals - but the plans were withdrawn.
Meghan and Harry are said to regard it as more of a home than Harry’s Nottingham Cottage bachelor pad in Kensington Palace.
A friend of the royal couple said of their countryside home: “It’s a fabulous place with stunning views and extraordinarily private.
“It’s set in a small bowl of beautiful countryside so is not overlooked in any way.
“Meghan adores the area. She and Harry love walking the dogs there, and they can entertain their friends in complete solitude.”
The farmhouse, which dates from the 18th century, has four bedrooms with one converted to a dressing room.
An attached converted barn includes an “upper kitchen” and “lower kitchen” plus a sitting area with floor-to-ceiling windows.
There is a large dining room plus an outdoor seating area with patio heaters.
And the house comes with a two-bedroom cottage for guests or staff.
Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, will keep it for the time being even when they move from Kensington Palace to Windsor’s Frogmore Cottage — a switch revealed by The Sun last year.
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Meghan is currently overseeing renovation work on the Windsor home and they hope to move in before the birth of their first baby, believed to be due in late March or early April.
The picture shows the farmhouse after renovation work was completed in 2011 and was published on a freely-accessible and public document.
Kensington Palace declined to comment.
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