Tyler Perry, the renowned actor and filmmaker, offered his Los Angeles home to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in March 2020, providing them with a safe haven as they transitioned to life in the United States during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This generous gesture was driven by Perry’s deep admiration for Princess Diana, a sentiment shared by his late mother, Maxine Perry, who “loved” the Princess of Wales.
In his memoir Spare, Harry revealed the surprising offer from Perry, explaining that the filmmaker had made the kind proposal after hearing that the Sussexes were seeking refuge in America. Harry recalled asking Perry why he was so generous, to which Perry responded: “My mother loved your mother.” The connection between their mothers touched Harry deeply, especially as Perry shared that his mother, Maxine, had passed away ten years prior, and he was still grieving her loss.
The bond between Perry and Diana traces back to her visit to Harlem, New York, in 1989 during the height of the AIDS epidemic. Diana’s compassionate visit to hospitals, where she met with AIDS patients, left an indelible mark on Perry’s mother. From that moment, Maxine Perry viewed Diana as a figure of great admiration. “After your mother visited Harlem, that was it,” Perry said. “She could do no wrong in my mother’s book.”
Harry and Meghan accepted Perry’s offer and moved into his gated Los Angeles estate at the end of March 2020, finding it to be a peaceful and welcoming space for their family, including their son Archie. However, as word spread about their location, they began facing increased attention from paparazzi, eventually limiting their outdoor activities to maintain their privacy.
Perry’s generosity didn’t stop at offering them his home. He became a close friend and confidant to the couple, even appearing in their Netflix documentary series. He was later honored with a special request from the Sussexes, as they asked him to be the godfather to their daughter, Lilibet.
This touching story highlights the profound connection between Tyler Perry, the Sussexes, and the lasting legacy of Princess Diana.
