Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, reportedly, bought their new house with their own money. Contrary to earlier reports, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not ask for financial help from Prince Charles to secure their dream home.
According to Us Weekly, Prince Harry and Meghan could have easily asked the Prince of Wales to contribute to their $15 million mansion purchase in Santa Barbara, California, in the peaceful community of Montecito. However, the Duke of Sussex didn't want his father involved because it would mean "going backwards" to their plan of becoming financially independent.
The source said that Prince Harry loves the feeling of independence as he and his wife invested on their first house together. The royal reportedly sees this as an opportunity to grow.
The Sussex pair availed of a $9.5 million mortgage to secure the house. While the property's price is hefty, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were able to buy the home at a bargain. The mansion reportedly originally costs $25 million.
Records show that Prince Harry and Meghan's new house was built in 2003 and owned by a Russian investor, Sergey Grishin. The Duchess of Sussex is confident that they can profit from the house if they decide to sell in the future.
For now, however, the Sussex pair is determined to set their roots in this new home. Another source also told Us Weekly that the couple plans to convert the separate guest house for Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland.
Prince Harry and Meghan like the quiet privacy of the community in Montecito, where there are hardly any chain stores. This city may be filled with wealthy people but they are not as flashy as the residents of Los Angeles.
Author Ross Macdonald once described Montecito as similar to Versailles in France but with simple residents who do not dress to impress. The ambiance in Prince Harry and Meghan's new community is semirural and in place of sidewalks and pavements are dirt, trees and flowers as nature is very abundant. It's the perfect place for the Sussexes to raise Archie in a normal environment.
Apart from Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres, Montecito is also home to Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom. Music producer David Foster also has a house in the area. He and the Duke of Sussex reportedly have a father-son type of relationship. It was actually Foster who secured the Vancouver property Prince Harry and Meghan rented for five months when they stepped back from the royal family.
