Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi’s Move to the U.K. Has Been ‘Difficult’ Amid Renovation

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have had a few bumps in the road to deal with as they settle into their new life in England, but a source exclusively tells In Touch that they’re committed to making the most of their adventure and not letting any setbacks get them down.

“They knew going into this that it wasn’t going to be totally smooth sailing, it was always going to be a challenge,” the source says of the U.K. move. “Taking on a big renovation in a foreign country is not easy. But they’re both very skilled at renovation. It’s one of their passions.”

After decades of calling California home, Ellen, 67, and Portia, 52, quietly packed up in 2024 and moved more than 5,000 miles to a new 43-acre property nestled in Cotswolds, the heart of the British countryside about 90 minutes outside of London. The Cotswolds’ celebrity residents include David and Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and Simon Cowell.

Ellen and Portia sold their Carpinteria, California, estate — which they purchased for $70 million in 2022 — to Singapore-based tycoon Robert Friedland for a whopping $96 million.

Unfortunately, their new $15 million Cotswolds home was plagued with floods, resulting in expensive damage, and the couple has since moved to a new mansion which is about 30 minutes from their original property.

The source says the couple — who have been married since 2008 — have “navigated plenty of hiccups” in the past with other projects, adding, “So they weren’t all that thrown off by the stumbling blocks they’ve faced in the U.K.”

“It’s been difficult at times because they do miss the comfort of things back in America, but more than anything they’re pleased to be embracing this new start,” the insider explains. “They’re getting to know the people around them and loving the property and the area. They take long walks in the woods every day, build roaring fires at night, all that stuff that’s so typical of the English countryside. Ultimately, it is proving to be a very good move for their souls and for their marriage.”

The bumps in the road come after In Touch reported that the couple moved overseas in late 2024 because Ellen was “just done” with the United States, while her wife was equally ready to “turn the page” and begin a new chapter in their lives.

Ellen had gone into isolation over the years following reports that she was mean to her staff on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In light of the scandal, the former host chose to end her long-running talk show in May 2021 after 19 seasons. She opened up in a rare comment about being canceled during her Ellen’s Last Stand … Up tour stop at Radio City Music Hall in New York City before her move in August 2024.

During her set, Ellen recalled being dubbed the “most hated person in America” after years of being the celebrity personality that fans “most want to babysit” their children. She then recounted turning to professional help in light of the backlash and was advised to “avoid all media.”

After she seemed to hit rock bottom, Ellen recalled how she eventually regained the strength to “heal” when she started writing jokes again. She then credited getting out of the “bubble in Hollywood” for helping her realize the “amount of support” she was still receiving from her loved ones.