Some of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s neighbors in Montecito are welcoming reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are preparing to spend an extended period in the UK, with residents saying the high-profile couple brought unwanted media attention to their otherwise quiet California enclave.
“When we first heard Harry and Meghan were moving to Montecito, there were definitely some concerns,” one local resident told Page Six.
“There had already been so much negative press and attention surrounding them and the royal family, and I think people worried about what kind of spotlight that could bring to such a quiet community.”
Now, with Harry and Meghan reportedly preparing to return to Britain with their two children, the resident said they “couldn’t be more thrilled.”
“Montecito is a very private, peaceful place, and I think a lot of people here will be happy to see things go back to being a little quieter,” the source continued.
The resident cautioned that the sentiment did not necessarily represent everyone in Montecito, saying they could speak only for themselves and other neighbors with whom they had discussed the matter.
Montecito is hardly unfamiliar with celebrities. Still, the source said Harry and Meghan attracted a level of media scrutiny that was unusual even for the affluent Santa Barbara County community.
Another neighbor was considerably more succinct when asked about the Sussexes’ impending departure, stating, “Good riddance!”
Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, are reportedly planning to travel to the UK at the end of August with Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, for an “extended period.”
Despite the planned move, sources said Thursday that the Sussexes currently intend to retain their $14.5 million Montecito mansion while dramatically increasing the amount of time they spend in Britain.
There are conflicting indications, however, about the long-term fate of the California property. A source in Santa Barbara’s luxury real estate industry said there “have been rumblings” that Harry and Meghan could ultimately put the estate on the market, adding that “every broker wants that listing.”
The couple has lived in Montecito since 2020, settling in the exclusive community after stepping away from their roles as “senior” members of the royal family and moving to the United States.
Harry and Meghan purchased their sprawling property that same year and have since raised Archie and Lilibet there.
The massive estate includes nine bedrooms and 16 bathrooms, along with extensive grounds featuring a tennis court, rose garden, tea house and a playhouse for the children.
The Sussexes’ planned return to Britain comes six years after their dramatic exit from royal duties and relocation to America, a highly publicized split that became known as “Megxit.”
King Charles III is reportedly one of the major factors behind Harry and Meghan’s decision to spend substantially more time in the UK.
“I know that Charles is a big reason for their return,” a royal insider told Page Six.
Harry, Meghan and their children reunited with the 77-year-old King at Highgrove House in July, the first time Charles had seen Archie and Lilibet in four years.
Charles, who is battling cancer, is reportedly delighted by the prospect of having his son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren living closer to him.
Harry and Meghan are also said to want Archie and Lilibet to establish stronger bonds with relatives and friends in Britain. According to a source, the children are expected to attend school in the UK while the family is there.
“They have so many friends and family in the UK whom they remain so close to,” another source told Page Six.
Despite returning to Britain for an extended stay, Harry and Meghan are expected to remain “non-working members” of the royal family rather than resume official royal duties.
The couple also reportedly intends to continue pursuing its various private business projects and commercial ventures while living in the UK.
