The news of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s relocation has set the ball rolling, with details still to come.
Many claims tied to their lifestyle in California have continued to unravel, and at the top of the list is a recent claim that the former working royals had successfully built a home without a community.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seemingly gave up on the American Dream they chased six years ago after stepping down from their duties as senior working royals.
Great controversy arose during Megxit, but amid it was a palpable sense of excitement when the couple arrived on U.S. soil in 2020, intending to build a home away from home. Hollywood buzzed with headlines about the lovebirds, and paparazzi raged, trying to cover any and every angle.
All the thrill now seems to have fizzled out as the lights and cameras, which became a part of the road outside their Montecito mansion, have disappeared. A rep for The Daily Mail spoke to one of their former neighbors, Susan, who did not hide her delight at the paparazzi’s departure.
Susan shared that when the Sussexes first came to the area, she tried to be friendly and neighborly, but her gesture was met with folded arms. “I left a bottle of wine at their gate to welcome them, and it was returned to me, unopened, the following day,” she revealed. “I’m not sure they ever wanted to hang out with anyone who wasn’t a billionaire or famous or both.”
She also told the outlet that the couple was usually seen passing by without interacting with anyone, the Duchess in her Range Rover and the Duke on his electric bike. “Meghan and Harry never became part of the community,” Susan said of the parents of two.
Will The Sussexes Be Missed?
4The fact that Meghan and Harry reportedly kept to themselves most of the time will play a role in whether or not their absence is felt. Author and long-time Montecito resident Robert Eringer said he couldn’t care less where they were. “I’m out and about in Montecito a lot and never saw them,” he added.
“I doubt anyone would have noticed they’d left if it hadn’t been reported in the news, but since it was, the general impression is good riddance,” Eringer said. Another neighbor noted that their departure from California was as quiet as their stay, with no media traction. He noted that there were no parties or moving trucks, describing their move as a “whimper, not a bang.”
A different person, who asked not to be named, echoed a similar sentiment, saying people were truly indifferent to Meghan and Harry’s return to Britain. There has been talk surrounding what would become of the lovebirds’ $14.5 million mansion.
Meghan Markle Allegedly Has Bad Rep With The Montecito Housekeepers
4Word is, Meghan has been a topic of gossip among Montecito domestic staff for her alleged behavior during employment interviews. The Blast reported that she came off as “really snobbish and rude” during personal interviews with potential housekeepers.
As a result, the former royals found it difficult to adequately staff her California home with professional domestic staff before they left the States. An insider disclosed that Meghan allegedly spoke to other local domestic workers from candidates who were offended during their interaction with her.
It was no longer news to the workers or even to the residents of the high-end community, and they “joked that all the maids in Montecito hated them.” The actress’s “rude” reputation allegedly made hiring and maintaining their staff a tough feat.
What Is The Reason Behind The Couple’s Return To The U.K.?
4Several angles of speculation have connected the dots around Meghan and Harry’s decision to leave the place they called home for the last six years. Especially since they made the decision public shortly after their reunion with King Charles and Queen Camilla last summer, many claim Harry wants his children to have a relationship with their father and stepmom.
It has been reported that their children, Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie, will resume school in the U.K. in September. There have been whispers that the Duke wants his children to receive a British-based education, as he did, and to have similar childhood experiences while getting close to their cousins.
The Blast shared that former royal butler Grant Harrold said he believes the parents of two had a change of heart because “their time in America did not go to plan.” He highlighted their Netflix deal and other commercial ventures that did not thrive as well as they supposedly expected.
Inside Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s Relocation
Moving across continents is bound to cost a fortune, but they are reportedly not shouldering the financial burden alone. Multiple sources say British hedge fund billionaire Ian Wace is helping the couple with the funds needed for their return to the U.K.
Wace and the Sussexes have a long-standing relationship that has now come in handy. The Blast reported that Meghan, Harry, Archie, and Lilibet visited Wace’s private Scottish island last month. Meghan even shared a picture of herself blissfully on Tanera Mór, which the billionaire bought in 2017 for $2.3 million.
The family of four touched down at their new base on August 26 in a private jet that cost $120,000. Their return to the U.K. does not mean a return as working royals; Meghan and Harry are said to live as private citizens, focusing on their individual ventures, acting, business, and charitable organizations.
Are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle still married?
- Yes. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are still married. The couple tied the knot in a high-profile royal ceremony at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018, and celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary in 2024.
What are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s official titles?
- They are officially known as The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Although they retain their “His/Her Royal Highness” (HRH) titles after deciding to step back as senior working royals in 2020, they no longer actively use HRH styles in their day-to-day lives or commercial endeavors.
Do Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children have royal titles?
- Yes. Their two children are officially Prince Archie of Sussex (born May 6, 2019) and Princess Lilibet of Sussex (born June 4, 2021). After King Charles III acceded to the throne in September 2022, the children automatically became entitled to use the titles of Prince and Princess as male-line grandchildren of the reigning monarch.
Where do Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live now?
- The couple resides in Montecito, California (a coastal community near Santa Barbara) with their two children. They purchased their home there in 2020 after officially stepping down from their roles in the British royal family. In August 2026, they announced their intentions to move back to the UK.
Are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle still working royals?
- No. Harry and Meghan officially stepped back as senior working members of the Royal Family in March 2020. Because they no longer perform official duties on behalf of the Crown, they do not receive funding from the Sovereign Grant and maintain financial independence through private ventures.
Where does Prince Harry stand in the line of succession to the British throne?
- Prince Harry is fifth in line to the British throne, behind his brother Prince William and William’s three children (Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis). Archie and Lilibet follow Harry as sixth and seventh in line, respectively.
