At the beginning of 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, made an announcement that no one saw coming, not even the Queen. The Sussex Royals decided that in the best interest of their young son and family, they would step down as senior members of the British Royal Family.
Part of that decision included balancing their time between North America and Britain. Within days of their announcement, Meghan boarded a plane to Canada and moved into a luxurious waterfront estate on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia. Prince Harry soon followed and the Sussex Royals began their next chapter in life.
Mille Fleurs Estate, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Prince Harry and Meghan are staying in what’s known as the Mille Fleurs estate, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The estate offers the couple plenty of privacy behind gates with private access to the beach.
These photos were taken while the estate was listed for sale, at a price upwards of $18 million. Seeing as Prince Harry grew up in Buckingham Palace, he’ll feel right at home with 11,416 square feet in the main house alone.
11,416 Square Feet of Living Space In The Main House Alone
The estate comes fully furnished, designed with a French Country style. Throughout the house are timeless pieces of furniture and elegant lighting. The light-coloured flooring on the lower level of the two-level living room balances out the dark wood featured in the beams and door frames.
The home was a perfect option for Prince Harry and Meghan, as it’s completely turnkey. They want to enjoy their privacy and this spacious home offers plenty of square footage to enjoy while sheltered from the outside world.
The Estate Features French Country Style
Nearly every window in the five-bedroom, eight-bathroom estate faces out towards the water. Harry and Meghan are able to enjoy incredible views from the living room, looking out to the back patio. Their beach access is private, offering a quiet and serene location on Vancouver Island.
The Mille Feurs estate is also large enough to entertain friends and family members who make the trip to the island in British Columbia. The property features a separate guest cottage spanning 2,349 square feet, according to Sotheby’s.
A Large, Two-Story Living Room
The design inside the Mille Fleurs estate is stunning. The high ceilings and wooden beams create a grand effect, complemented by this grandiose chandelier that brings a sense of elegance at night. The fireplace on the lower level is a perfect spot to read a book on a cold day.
The fireplace on the lower level is a perfect spot to read a book on a cold day. Although it’s unclear when the couple decided to move into the estate with baby Archie, the Sussex Royals also celebrated the holidays in this home.
Formal Dining With Incredible French Country Detailing
The formal dining room features beautiful herringbone wood floors and another fireplace to enjoy. The large table has ten place settings and several elegant lighting fixtures and chandelier.
Called “the great room,” this dining space features double-height ceilings and warm reds and golds that stay true to the French Country style of the estate. Ocean Home Mag reports that home was originally owned by a German movie star.
A Gourmet Kitchen
The couple said that they became engaged while “trying to roast a chicken,” as Harry jokingly put it, at his home in Kensington Palace. It was “just a standard, typical night for us,” he said. Now the couple can make plenty of family memories in their gorgeous gourmet kitchen.
Now the couple can make plenty of family memories in their gorgeous gourmet kitchen. Wolfswinkel, who reportedly owned the home in 2012, told Ocean Home Mag, “People may come for a few days or a week, but they don’t want to leave.”
A Formal Study For Royal Sussex Inspiration
As outlined on their Royal Sussex website, Prince Harry and Meghan have several plans for the future, including charity efforts and talks of a production company. This immaculate study in their Mille Fleurs home is sure to inspire great ideas for their future.
It’s designed with big windows overlooking the natural surroundings and a beautiful fireplace, creating a cosy feel. The wood-panelled ceilings and decadent chandelier pull together the French country look that’s carried throughout the rest of the estate.
Formal Gardens Surround The Estate
Harry and Meghan have already been spotted going on hikes around the island with baby Archie, and they also have formal manicured gardens on their own property to explore. It seems as though every window in every room of the Mille Fleurs estate has an incredible view.
The private outdoor area boasts an even broader scope of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding land. Once the temperatures warm up, the Royal Sussex family is sure to spend plenty of days and nights entertaining outdoors.
Two Beach Access Points
Wolfswinkel, who reportedly owned the estate in 2012, hired horticulturalist Jim Dawson to select the plants and flowers to complement the property without taking away from the water views and nature surrounding the home.
The previous homeowner designed pathways around the manicured grounds and formal gardens, ideal for a peaceful stroll with baby Archie. The estate is located nearby the world-renowned Butchart Gardens, which is also a Natural Historic Site of Canada.
The Guest Cottage Is 2,349 Square Feet
The charming guest cottage is 2,349 feet, more space than the average family’s main home! The cottage features three bedrooms and two bathrooms, which would be enough room for Prince William, Kate, and their brood to stay in if they visit.
Like the main house, the cottage is surrounded by beautiful lush vegetation and is just a short walk to the waterside. It’s the first building you see when you enter through the property gates.
An Incredible Space To Enjoy Natural Light
The previous homeowner, Wolfswinkel, spent countless hours studying French Country design to make sure the estate was authentic. She told Ocean Home Mag, “I wanted the house to have modern amenities, but [also] to look like it had been here for 100 years.”
She calls it a “sun-catcher house” as the design angles windows to perfectly capture the sun throughout the day. She hired specialized craftspeople to complete the beams that add extravagance and age to the home.
Waterfront Estate
The estate is situated to have a 300-degree waterfront view. The previous homeowner described it as “very zen, very comforting.” The design was to be mindful of the natural beauty around and to honour the land.
The property measures just under four acres and features fruit trees including apple, pear, and apricot trees, as Ocean Home Mag reports. For many years, the estate was available to rent for weddings and other celebrations.
A Shielded Gate For Privacy
Since announcing that they’re stepping down from their senior royal duties and leaving Britain, the Sussex Royals are attempting to keep their private life on lockdown. While Meghan has already stepped out to visit a women’s shelter, they’ve chosen Vancouver Island for its natural surroundings and privacy.
There are several gates around the property, and the one that passersby were able to see through was shielded from view. The Sussex Royals still have the same level of security in place that they had in Britain.
It Offers More Privacy Than Frogmore Cottage
The Sussex Royals announced that they would be working toward becoming financially independent and part of that included paying back Britain’s taxpayers for the $3 million they used to renovate Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.
It’s not clear if they’ve purchased the $18 million Mille Fleurs estate, or just renting it. But with Harry and Meghan’s combined net worth, they can certainly afford it if they choose to. The Duchess of Sussex lived in Canada for several years while filming Suits, so it makes sense that they would take up residence in the country.
A Media Room, Game Room, And Wine Tasting Room
The landscape was also designed so that residents and visitors could enjoy various plants and flowers from every window in the five-bedroom, eight-bathroom home. Not pictured is a game room with a wet bar and a media room.
The estate also has a room designated for wine tasting and a pizza oven, perfect for entertaining. Harry and Meghan have everything they need in the $18 million estates, as well as a 2,349 square foot guest cottage on the property.
There Are Plenty Of Incredible Hiking Trails
Vancouver Island is the 43rd largest island in the world and the 11th largest island in Canada. The island has one of the warmest climates in the country and is mild enough to allow lots of plants to flourish along the British Columbia coastline.
There’s plenty of wildlife on the island, including wolves, elk, black bears, deer, and cougars. Neighbours of the Mille Fleurs estate have reported seeing Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan, and baby Archie hiking the trails nearby.
Vancouver Island Offers Excellent Fishing
Vancouver Island has plenty of rivers and lakes that are healthy with fish. Trout, Salmon, and Steelhead can be found in the local fisheries which many of the locals work for. Each year, tons of Pacific salmon are farmed from the area.
The island has several ports and harbours and is mostly known for forestry, although environmental activists are making an effort to slow it down and protect the island’s natural resources.
The Four Acre Estate Ends At Butchart Gardens
The Mille Fleurs estate is just down the road from Butchart Gardens, one of the most famous gardens in the world. Each year, millions of people visit the oasis that’s existed on Vancouver Island for over 100 years.
Butchart Gardens spans 55 acres with 26 greenhouses and 900 plant varieties. The Sussex Royals are sure to pay a visit to this incredible property, just down on the road from their estate in British Columbia.
The Island Has Ferries And An Airport
Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on Canada’s southwestern coast, there aren’t any bridges connecting Vancouver Island to the mainland. Residents and visitors have the option of taking a ferry, a commercial plane, a private plane, or a seaplane, as Meghan did while visiting a women’s shelter on the mainland.
Prince Harry flew into Vancouver Island Airport to join his family after a long 12-hour flight. It’s possible that Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their three children will pay them a visit. They’ve travelled by seaplane before in 2016 during an eight-day visit to Canada.
Reportedly, The Couple Is Happy And Relaxed
Both Harry and Meghan have reportedly looked happy and relaxed since making the move to British Columbia. Prince Harry was seen with a wide smile as he deboarded the plane at the Vancouver Island airport in mid-January 2020.
After months of internal discussions and one big announcement, the couple appears relieved to have the initial conversations over with. The Sussex Royals aren’t missing a beat settling into their second home in Canada.