Neighbors of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in California were quoted as saying that their move brought more activity to the previously quiet neighborhood.
When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they would be leaving their roles as members of the royal family in 2020, they purchased their house in Montecito, which is located in Santa Barbara County. The price of the home was $14.65 million, which is equivalent to 12 million pounds. Since then, approximately five years ago, the values of real estate have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels.
It is currently worth $29 million, which is equivalent to £23.5 million, which is more than twice as much as what they paid for it. Montecito is home to a remarkable number of well-known individuals, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Oprah Winfrey. Residents have a positive impression of the neighborhood, describing it as calm and welcoming.
Residents of the neighborhood have expressed their belief that the Sussexes are a horrible family and that things have changed since Prince Harry and Meghan came into the region. According to Daily Mail, Meghan and Prince Harry have become "local villains" in the upscale suburb of California.
Those who are not from the area are frequently accused of driving at excessive speeds and taking up all of the available parking spots on the streets near the local trails. Meghan strolled along one of these routes while Prince Harry was in the United Kingdom for the coronation of his father in May of 2023.
An individual who resides in Montecito shared with Vanity Fair that ever since the two moved there, the area has gotten so famous that it is now impossible for individuals to simply stroll into restaurants and place an order for meals. After attending the wedding of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, the neighbor and his friends witnessed the couple. Additionally, they witnessed Prince Harry playing polo at a field next door. It was the first time that they had ever encountered the pair.
Per Mirror, an individual from Montecito who did not wish to be identified stated that Meghan's brand, American Riviera Orchard, and other enterprises are "a kind of hucksterism" and demonstrate that the "Suits" star is attempting to earn money in any way that she can. However, despite the fact that the Sussexes have stated that they would want to live a more private life away from the media, this adds attention to the region.
The celebrity pundit who is behind Lainey Gossip, Elaine Lui, told Vanity Fair: "I still think they're the most entitled, disingenuous people on the planet. They moved away from England to get away from the scrutiny of the press, and all they do is try and get in the press in the United States."
As far as the reporter is concerned, the most common critique she hears about Prince Harry and Meghan is that "you can't cherry-pick the good parts and leave out the bad parts" of famous people.
However, she explained, "all celebrities do this. Don't take photos of me. Oh, but here, let me step out, conveniently, and get papped. Only give me good reviews of my movie or my album. And if you don't like my music, I'm gonna post on Instagram that you're so shitty as a reviewer.'"
Business Times has reached out to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's representatives for comments.
