In the serene neighborhood of Montecito, Santa Barbara, California, an unexpected arrival in 2020 stirred the tranquil community. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, chose this locale for their new home, surprising many, including US Navy veteran Frank McGinity.
McGinity, an 88-year-old resident living adjacent to the Sussexes' property, recounts his experience in a new chapter of his memoir, "Get Off Your Street." He describes the couple's arrival and his attempt to welcome them to the neighborhood, an effort that was unfortunately rebuffed.
The veteran was taken aback when he learned that the royal couple had chosen to move to the Riven Rock Estate. The property, he noted, typically attracts older buyers and renters. In a neighborly gesture, McGinity decided to gift the couple with videos he had made about the devastating mudslides that had hit the area a few years prior.
However, his attempt to deliver the CD to the couple was thwarted at their gate. "The gate guy turned me away and wouldn't take the film, just saying 'they're not interested.' I was trying to be neighborly. If they were interested in the neighborhood, I've got a lot of information," McGinity shared.
The mudslides, which occurred in January 2018, had left the area looking like a "sea of mud or a moonscape," according to McGinity. His own house was heavily damaged, with large boulders needing to be chiseled apart for removal.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex relocated to Montecito in June 2020, following their departure from royal duties in the U.K. They initially stayed in Vancouver, Canada, before moving to California just as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning. They resided in Tyler Perry's mansion in Los Angeles for several months before finding their own home.
Despite their high-profile status, the couple has maintained a low profile in Montecito. They were recently seen enjoying a Fourth of July parade with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. However, according to McGinity, sightings of the couple are rare. "We don't see them very much around here. It's surprising they came here. People are typically older. It's where the elephants come to die," he said.
The Montecito area is home to several other A-list celebrities, including Ellen DeGeneres, Katy Perry, Rob Lowe, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Despite the star-studded neighborhood, the arrival of the Sussexes has added a new dynamic to this tranquil community.
