Prince Harry, Meghan Markle NOT “Moving To Malibu,” Despite Report

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(Star)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not “moving to Malibu,” despite a new tabloid cover story. Gossip Cop can bust this provably untrue report. We can also explain how it came about.

Earlier this month, New Idea wrongly claimed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle bought a Malibu beach house. Upon investigating, a royal staffer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Gossip Cop the allegation was entirely “false.” The couple is based at Kensington Palace and that is not changing. But now Star has seemingly fabricated a cover story to continue the bogus storyline.

In its new issue, the gossip magazine reveals early on that its tale is illegitimate by referring to the couple’s “purported purchase of a lavish new love nest” in California. If the outlet had real, verified reporting, it would not call the purchase “purported.” Still, the publication maintains Prince Harry is “ready to make a major purchase and plunk down $16 million on a destination holiday home in Malibu for his new bride.” Citing unnamed and untraceable “real estate insiders,” the tabloid claims the “beachside manor is a wedding gift” for Markle.

In more suspicious phrasing, the magazine contends, “Word is, Harry has his heart set on an eight-bedroom, eight-bathroom estate overlooking the Pacific Ocean.” It’s alleged Markle has yet to see the residence herself, but a so-called “source” predicts she’ll be “beside herself.” The outlet maintains Prince Harry is “itching to sign the deed,” and the supposed snitch asserts the plan is to “spend at least four months of the year there.”

The publication further claims the spouses-to-be are “expected to move into their poolside pad in July.” Of course, no reputable media — neither those that cover the royals in the UK nor those that follow real estate transactions in California — have reported any such plans. And there’s a significant reason why the couple can’t make such a move even if they wanted.

Markle is currently in the midst of the lengthy process of becoming a British citizen, and as reported by the BBC, she can spend “no more than 270 days outside the UK” during the three-year period before submitting her official application. If she were to live in Malibu “at least four months of the year” during this three-year time, that would be 360 days outside of England. That is not feasible for achieving citizenship, particularly when you consider that Markle will also have to account for any international travel related to her royal duties.

What’s more is that when detailing Markle’s move to London, E! Online also noted that in the immediate 12 months before applying for citizenship, she can’t have “spent more than 90 days outside the U.K.” That would also rule out spending “four months,” or 120 days, in the United States. But it’s readily apparent Star didn’t do diligent research before cobbling its implausible cover story. The tabloid was obviously inspired by the aforementioned New Idea article, but had the magazine fact-checked, it would’ve learned this supposed Malibu move is not only phony, but impossible.