Is This Home Too ‘Scary’ for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle?

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are house hunting in Malibu, CA! In addition to renting a gorgeous mansion on Vancouver Island, the couple are eyeing a Malibu rental called Petra Manor, according to the New York Post.

The gorgeous property, once owned by David Charvet of “Baywatch” and his ex-wife and reality TV star, Brooke Burke, is valued at anywhere from $7 million to $20 million. It can be rented out on Stay Awhile Villas for nearly $16,000 a night, although Charvet could be giving the Duke and Duchess of Sussex a reduced rate in order to get them in the door—and enhance the property’s celebrity status for future buyers.

This eight-bedroom, 10-bath mansion—with numerous outbuildings, pool, massive wine cellar, dance studio, and home theater—brings Meghan back to her California roots, since the former “Suits” star was born and raised in Los Angeles. There’s also plenty of space for visitors such as Meghan’s mom, Doria Ragland.

The enormous home is known as Petra Manor.

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Last but not least, the compound is also close to the beach—another excellent perk—and in turnkey condition, so Harry and Meghan won’t have to take on another massive renovation like with their U.K. digs, Frogmore Cottage.

A two-story tower adds drama to the villa’s entrance.

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Why Harry and Meghan are home shopping in Malibu

So, why is Malibu calling the Sussexes, anyway?

“Malibu is an ideal location because it’s close enough to Los Angeles, yet secluded and away from the frenetic pace of daily life and the paparazzi,” explains Cara Ameer, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in Los Angeles.

“The primary draw here is seclusion and privacy, since it’s a virtual gated fortress with round-the-clock guards,” says Tyler Drew, CEO of Anubis Properties in Los Angeles.

“A lot of the existing inventory in the area won’t afford them nearly as much privacy unless you start going into the $40 and $50 million range,” Ameer adds. “And lots of those properties are more of the typical L.A. style, which means ultrasleek and contemporary that’s better suited to a musician instead of a young couple with a growing family.”

All that said, Malibu isn’t completely risk-free. Think: mudslides, wildfires, and earthquakes.

“It can be scary here if you’ve never experienced these things before, so they should put a disaster plan in place as best they can,” says Ameer.

Scary or not, the potential for natural disasters in this area doesn’t seem to be deterring other A-listers from settling in the area. Petra Manor is surrounded by celebrity neighbors, including Robert Downey Jr., Mel Gibson, and Caitlyn Jenner.

Does this home match Harry and Meghan’s style?

Another reason Harry and Meghan might be eyeing this house is that the style seems to mesh with their sensibilities.

“This home exudes a lot of English charm, so I can see why Harry and Meghan are drawn to it. There’s understated elegance that’s refined and not flashy, which is very much how this couple is,” says Ameer. (Charvet seems to have renovated and expanded the property and may have upgraded the stone exterior and courtyard spaces, giving it a lighter, brighter facade.)

A wine cellar and tasting room that’s fit for a prince

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“The style is very much transitional on the inside, which means the couple has a flexible backdrop to personalize the decor as they see fit, whether that’s California coastal chic or something more eclectic that reflects their diverse backgrounds,” says Ameer.

The current, simple look can pivot to both modern or traditional decor.

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Another plus for a family? A large, private yard.

“There’s yard space for Archie to run around without the neighbors peering in,” adds Ameer.

Visit the cineplex downtown? Not with their own plush seats, surround sound, and fireplace

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Dinner for 25? Not a problem with this deluxe kitchen!

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As to whether Harry and Meghan will make this a forever home, it could happen—but it might be on the down low.

“With Southern California real estate, so many properties sell off market and it’s not unusual for something to be found that wasn’t formally listed,” Ameer points out. “Jeff Bezos did it, so why not Harry and Meghan?”

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