The Truth About Meghan Markle And Tyler Perry's Relationship
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to Los Angeles in March 2020, the same month they stepped down as senior members of the royal family. Many fans had questions about the move, especially concerning where the Duke and Duchess Sussex will live. This prevailing question was seemingly answered on May 7, 2020, when the Daily Mail reported that the couple is living in producer Tyler Perry's megamansion. The $18 million property — a Tuscan-style villa that sits on 22 acres in Beverly Hills — has 8 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. The abode is reportedly located in a guard-gated community, the outlet reported.
It's unclear if the parents are renting the home or if they're staying there as guests, although Page Six reported that "Perry is currently out of town in Atlanta setting up to restart production in his studio."
For those who didn't see this coming (we for sure didn't), there may be questions about how Markle knows Perry, who is famous for creating the Madea character. The hilarious persona inspired a successful movie franchise and stage-play films.
So how did these two connect? We explore Meghan Markle and Tyler Perry's relationship after the jump.
Did Oprah Winfrey play a role?
Page Six reported that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are in the process of searching for their own LA home in the price range of $10 million to 20 million, but in the meantime, they're enjoying Tyler Perry's luxurious property. "Beverly Ridge is an excellent place to keep out of view," a source told the Daily Mail about the ritzy digs. "The neighbors are mostly old money and mega-rich business types rather than show business gossips."
As for how the pair managed to snag the property? It's a fair question considering Markle hasn't ever been photographed with Perry. As it turns out, the answer might involve Oprah Winfrey, who is friends with both Perry and the Sussexes. The mogul is the godmother to Perry's son, Aman, and she's working on a series about mental health with Prince Harry. The Daily Mail claims Winfrey arranged everything, although she hasn't confirmed this publicly.
Once the deal was made, Perry reportedly flew the couple down from Vancouver to Los Angeles via his private plane, per the Daily Mail.
Perry has expressed support for Markle in the past, saying he "felt her" comments about not being asked whether she's OK. "People toss it out. 'How are you doing?'" the actor reportedly said. "But not many people really mean it. Or pay attention to the answer."
Itching to know more? Here's our first look at Meghan and Harry's new life in LA.