The glittering reception for the King's Trust Awards 2025 at Buckingham Palace was a rare London appearance for George and Amal Clooney, a couple increasingly rooted in continental Europe. While their move to France has been widely attributed to George's opposition to Donald Trump's re-election, a deeper analysis reveals a more complex tapestry of motivations behind their pursuit of French citizenship.
A Provençal Vineyard and Celebrity Winemaking Ambitions
Central to the Clooneys' new life is their sprawling 170-hectare estate in Brignoles, Provence, complete with an 18th-century chateau and a 20-acre vineyard. The land, planted by renowned agronomist Laurence Berlemont, places them at the heart of a celebrity viticulture hub. Neighbours include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's Château Miraval and George Lucas's Skywalker Vineyards.
Eric Lambert, president of the local Coteaux Varois appellation syndicate, publicly expressed hope that Clooney would become "a new ambassador for the AOC". Berlemont, who has guided the actor through blending sessions, praised his "good palate" and humble approach. Although plans for a 2025 rosé and white wine debut have stalled, Clooney's history with Casamigos tequila, sold for $1 billion in 2017, underscores his serious commercial interest in the drinks industry.
Seeking Sanctuary from the Paparazzi Lens
Despite a deep affection for Italy, where they own a Lake Como villa and were married in Venice, the couple chose France for its superior privacy protections. In an October interview, Clooney explicitly cited concerns about raising children in Los Angeles, stating, "I don't want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi."
While Italian privacy laws are stronger than those in the US, France's legal framework is even more stringent, particularly in rural areas. The secluded nature of their Provençal estate offers a formidable physical barrier, a stark contrast to the exposed villas of Lake Como, viewable from a simple rowing boat.
The Legal Threat: US Sanctions and a Ban on Entry
The most pressing reason for the relocation may stem from Amal Clooney's professional work. In 2024, as part of an advisory panel to the International Criminal Court (ICC), she helped review evidence concerning the conflict in Gaza. The panel recommended that ICC prosecutor Karim Khan issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes.
Following the warrant's issuance in November 2024, President Trump signed an executive order in February 2025 imposing sanctions on the ICC. The order threatened "the suspension of entry into the United States" for ICC officials, employees, agents, and their immediate family members.
In April 2025, the UK Foreign Office warned Amal and other senior ICC counsel that they could face these US sanctions, including being barred from entering the United States. This development likely accelerated the family's need for an alternative citizenship, ensuring they could travel freely as a unit without the threat of being unable to return to a primary home.
While the couple's fast-tracked French citizenship application ahead of 2026's stricter language rules made headlines, the confluence of a potential US entry ban, a desire for familial privacy, and a burgeoning wine business paints a fuller picture of their strategic move across the Channel.
