Residents of the tranquil Hope Ranch community in California are reportedly expressing apprehension over the possibility of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, moving into their neighborhood. The royal couple, along with their two children, currently reside in Montecito, Santa Barbara, but rumors of a potential move to Hope Ranch have been circulating for the past nine months.
The speculation has led to a flurry of phone calls from concerned residents to local real estate offices. Many fear that the media attention that inevitably follows the Sussexes could disrupt the peace and quiet of their community. One anonymous realtor shared that the general sentiment among callers was a desire for the royal couple to remain in Montecito, thereby avoiding the spotlight's glare on Hope Ranch.
Another realtor, a Santa Barbara native, echoed these sentiments, stating that locals are worried that the Duke and Duchess could transform Hope Ranch into an extension of Montecito, which is home to numerous high-profile celebrities such as Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah Winfrey, and Adam Levine.
The rumors of the Sussexes' potential move have reportedly caused a stir among Hope Ranch residents. A former resident of the area expressed concern that the arrival of such high-profile figures would significantly alter the character of the area, something that the local homeowners' association would likely resist.
The allure of Hope Ranch lies in its privacy, with the community boasting a private beach. There have been unconfirmed sightings of Meghan Markle on this beach, further fueling the rumors. Adding to the residents' unease are claims, albeit unverified, that the Sussexes' security detail has previously closed down streets and blocked hiking trails in Montecito for privacy reasons.
However, a source close to the Sussexes has cast doubt on these claims, stating that it is unlikely that private security would have the authority to close public roads. Moreover, the royal couple may face challenges in finding a property in Hope Ranch, as estates in the area rarely come on the market, and sellers can be selective about potential buyers.
Bryan Neyer, a Beverly Hills-based global luxury real estate specialist, explained that Hope Ranch is a small, affluent community with a lot of old, generational wealth, and properties often get passed from one generation to the next rather than being sold.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to their Montecito mansion in June 2020, after a brief stay in Tyler Perry's Los Angeles mansion and a stint in Canada following their departure from royal duties in the U.K. Their current residence, an 18,000-square-foot house with nine bedrooms and 16 bathrooms, reportedly cost $14.65 million.
