Prince Harry, apparently, hated living in Los Angeles. This was a big factor in his decision to move to Montecito, Santa Barbara with Meghan Markle.
A source told Us Weekly that Prince Harry was open to giving Los Angeles "a shot," when they first moved to the U.S. The city is Meghan's hometown but her husband didn't love the lack of privacy in Tinseltown.
Prince Harry, also, allegedly, thought their move to L.A. was ill-timed, amid the coronavirus pandemic. The couple, however, talked about living in Montecito so it wasn't like this move wasn't part of the plan.
The source went on to say that Meghan often visited Montecito in her teens. She loves the city's "picturesque scenery and stunning architecture." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex found an almost $15-million home in the same neighborhood as Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres.
They also like Montecito because it's only an hour's drive to Los Angeles, which means that their work won't be affected. Despite the move, Prince Harry and Meghan's plan to establish Archewell is apparently still on track. At the same time, they've gotten away from the paparazzi and the tourist crowd in Hollywood because Santa Barbara is more peaceful.
The Sussex pair reportedly fell in love with their Montecito dream home, where they intend to set their roots. Contrary to earlier reports, Prince Charles reportedly didn't pay for the house.
According to royal journalist Omid Scobie via Entertainment Tonight, finding a home amid this pandemic wasn't easy for the Sussex pair. But Prince Harry and Meghan bought the mansion with their own money. They've managed to apply for a mortgage to finally establish their independence.
Scobie said that Prince Harry and Meghan are "extremely liquid" when it comes to their finances. The Duchess of Sussex apparently still gets residuals from her work on the TV series Suits.
Prince Harry and Meghan will soon embark on a series of "smart" speaking engagements, whether solo or together, with the help of the Harry Walker Agency. The couple tapped this high-profile outfit in June to arrange for their talks with various organizations.
Though Scobie didn't say how much the royal pair will likely earn from these deals, Prince Harry and Meghan will reportedly stay away from product endorsements and similar ventures. More than making money and building their private income, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex aim to a make a social impact with their philanthropy.
