The latest real estate investment by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Portugal is causing a stir among local residents, highlighting the issue of diminishing public access to the beloved coastline.

The couple’s acquisition of a multi-million dollar property in the exclusive CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club in Melides has stirred up growing discontent between the affluent newcomers and the enduring residents.

Previously, Portuguese law forbade any restrictions on public beach access. However, recent modifications now permit certain stretches to be classified as private, a move that has sparked a backlash from the local community.

Bradley McGuiness, a resident of Melides, conveyed his disappointment, describing the situation as a major blow to the Portuguese coast. He criticized the new development for usurping land and property from long-standing residents. Another local expressed their frustration over the opulent new compound, regretting the significant portion of Portuguese land now in the hands of the wealthy that has displaced average locals who have created memories there for generations.

Diana Queiroz, another resident, shared her experience of visiting the area for years and camping there on numerous occasions. However, she can no longer do so due to the new development.

The 722-acre beachfront development, with properties starting at $4.7 million, signifies a radical change in local land utilization. Local councils have marked specific beaches as private, thus denying public access to stretches of coastline that residents had freely enjoyed for decades.

The Discovery Land Company, established by multimillionaire Mike Meldman, plans to develop 300 luxury homes. This move has been dubbed by residents as a “typical greed situation” that has eradicated their traditional access to natural areas.

The local business community has also voiced its disapproval of the wealthy enclave. “The rich from the resorts don’t eat with the poor,” a seafood restaurant owner said, emphasizing the expanding social divide.

A local real estate agent downplayed the royal couple’s influence on the area, claiming that there are “much richer and much more famous people buying here” and that the Sussexes will have “zero impact” on the community.

The Sussexes’ acquisition follows their 2023 eviction by King Charles from Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Their new Portuguese property is located near a home owned by Harry’s cousin, Princess Eugenie, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, who is employed in marketing and sales for the development company.

Industry insiders point out that the purchase could potentially aid the couple in securing a “Golden Visa,” which offers visa-free access to the European Union’s Schengen area. The property adds to their real estate portfolio, including their $19.5 million primary residence in Montecito, California.