Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Just Vacationed in Portugal — and May Have Visited a Royal Relative: Report

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in Germany attending the Invictus Games, and they made another stop before returning to California

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry reportedly extended their European vacation with a stop in Portugal.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who were in Germany earlier this month to attend the sixth iteration of the Invictus Games, quietly stopped in Portugal for a vacation before returning home to California, according to Nova Gente.

Harry and Meghan likely spent time with the Duke's cousin Princess Eugenie, who lives in Portugal part-time. It was announced last year that Eugenie's husband, Jack Brooksbank, landed a new job that will see the family (the couple are parents to two sons: August, 2, and Ernest, 4 months) splitting their time between the U.K. and Portugal.

Despite Prince Harry and Meghan's move to the United States in 2020 after announcing their decision to step back as senior working members of the royal family, the Duke of Sussex remains close to cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

A family insider told PEOPLE earlier this year, "They're still the best of friends and talk constantly."

Related: Meghan Markle Wears Carolina Herrera —Again! — for Surprise Appearance at Kevin Costner's Fundraiser

The tensions between Prince Harry and Meghan with the royal family, particularly his father King Charles and brother Prince William, has been "really stressful" for Beatrice and Eugenie, the insider added.

"This whole drama between him and Meghan and the rift with the rest of the family has been really stressful for the girls. It’s hard to watch because they see both sides of it," the source said, adding that the sisters "understand and live the royal machine."

Prince Harry's bond with Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie was recently on display at King Charles' coronation on May 6. Although Meghan stayed in California with their two children, Harry entered Westminster Abbey smiling and chatting with Beatrice, her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Eugenie and Jack.

In Feb. 2022, Prince Harry was joined by Princess Eugenie at the Super Bowl in California — and she was the only member of the royal family to appear in new footage during their Netflix docuseries Harry and Meghan, which aired in December. The video appeared to show Eugenie playing with Harry and Meghan's son, Prince Archie, at the beach.

"Eugenie had always been more than just a cousin to Harry. They were also the closest of friends," authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand wrote in Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family.

"Out of all the Queen's grandchildren, Harry and Eugenie have one of the most natural connections. Like Harry, Eugenie is loyal, honest, and great fun. The two had many nights out together in London," the authors added. "Harry had always confided in his cousin when it came to the women in his life. Not only did he trust her implicitly, but friends say that she gives great advice and has always been 'beyond wise' for her years."

Related: Sam Ryder Says Singing with Meghan Markle 'Wasn’t on' His '2023 Bingo Card' After Invictus Games Performance

Meghan also shares a bond with Eugenie. Speaking with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, the Duchess of Sussex revealed that she knew Princess Eugenie prior to dating Harry.

"Eugenie and I had known each other before I had known Harry, so that was comfortable," she said. "We're friends with them as a couple."

Meghan later told Ellen DeGeneres during an appearance on her talk show that Princess Eugenie and Jack visited her in Toronto when she was dating Prince Harry. Before the news of their relationship broke to the public, the two couples went out to a Halloween party in disguise.

"The four of us snuck out in Halloween costumes to just have one fun night on the town before it was out in the world that we were a couple," explained Meghan.

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While Meghan made her first appearance in Germany on Sept. 12, Prince Harry had kicked off his event for service personnel and veterans a few days earlier. The Duke of Sussex also stopped in the U.K. before heading to Germany — there, he attended the WellChild Awards and visited his grandmother Queen Elizabeth's burial site at Windsor Castle on the first anniversary of her death.

On Friday, the couple made a surprise appearance in Santa Barbara at Kevin Costner’s oceanside fundraiser for the charity One805.

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