Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s move back to Britain has generated headlines on both sides of the Atlantic, but in the California community they called home for five years, the reaction has been far from emotional.
While the Sussexes once arrived in Montecito surrounded by enormous curiosity, multimillion-dollar deals, and expectations of a thriving post-royal empire, some locals now say their departure has been met with little more than a shrug. In some corners of the celebrity enclave, the response has been even harsher.
5For a couple who once commanded intense public fascination, several Montecito residents suggested the biggest surprise surrounding Harry and Meghan’s departure was how little attention it received.
Longtime resident and author Robert Eringer said many locals barely noticed the Sussexes were gone until news reports revealed they had relocated to Britain.
“Personally it matters not one iota to me whether they’re in Montecito or in Britain,” Eringer told the Daily Mail while speaking about the move. He added that despite regularly being out in the community, he rarely encountered the couple.
“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,” he added.
Another resident described the move as remarkably uneventful, claiming the pair left “with a whimper, not a bang.” According to them, “There were no moving trucks, no parties, nothing at all. One day they were here and the next they were back in England.”
The comments painted a very different picture from the atmosphere that greeted Harry and Meghan when they first settled in Montecito in 2020. At the time, many viewed the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as one of the biggest celebrity stories in California.
Harry And Meghan Reportedly Remained On The Outside Looking In
5Part of the frustration expressed by some locals appears to stem from a belief that Harry and Meghan never truly embraced the community around them.
One neighbor, identified only as Susan, claimed the duo maintained a noticeable distance from residents despite living in the area for years.
“Meghan and Harry never became part of the community. You’d see him out on his electric bike and she’d drive past in a Range Rover but it was always ‘swish’ and you’d miss them,” they explained.
Susan also recalled an attempt to welcome the couple shortly after their arrival that she says ended awkwardly. She recalled leaving a “bottle of wine” at their gate to welcome them.
However, Susan claimed the bottle was returned unopened the following day. She added, “I’m not sure they ever wanted to hang out with anyone who wasn’t a billionaire or famous or both.”
Others suggested the excitement that once surrounded the Sussexes gradually faded as the years passed. One Santa Barbara resident argued that the public enthusiasm they enjoyed upon arriving in California eventually disappeared altogether.
The Sussexes’ Business Presence Appears To Fade Along With The Buzz
5The cooling enthusiasm is also reportedly visible in one of the businesses that once proudly aligned itself with Meghan’s growing lifestyle brand.
Godmothers bookstore, located just a few miles from the Sussexes’ former home, was previously celebrated as the first brick-and-mortar retailer to stock Meghan’s As Ever products.
The launch received significant publicity, with an entire upstairs room devoted to teas, jams, candles, and flower sprinkles.
The space reportedly featured custom displays, decorative arrangements, and signage emphasizing that the assortment had been curated by the Duchess herself.
Now, that display has largely disappeared. When asked whether As Ever products were still available, a bookstore employee reportedly responded, “I don’t think I know that company?”
After being told it was Meghan’s brand, the employee added, “Oh, we don’t stock it anymore.” Only a handful of flower sprinkle tins reportedly remain.
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Harry And Meghan’s Return Puts Prince William In An ‘Unenviable Position’
5As the dust settles from Harry and Meghan’s departure from California, attention has quickly shifted to the impact their return could have on the royal family itself.
According to royal commentators, the move has created a new headache for Prince William at a time when he had hoped to focus on his family and future role as king.
Speaking about the development, Princess Diana biographer Andrew Morton told Vanity Fair that Harry’s return has “changed the narrative,” arguing that the Duke of Sussex is no longer a distant figure commenting on royal life from California but is now physically back in the country and impossible to ignore.
Royal commentator Katie Nicholl echoed concerns about the state of the relationship, telling Hello! the biggest obstacle is trust.
According to Nicholl, William’s “hand is really being forced on this,” because Harry’s return inevitably raises expectations that the brothers should reconnect. Yet she cautioned that rebuilding trust after years of public grievances will not happen overnight.
King Charles Has One Wish After Harry And Meghan’s Return
5While Prince William’s position appears complicated, King Charles is reportedly looking at Harry and Meghan’s return through a very different lens.
According to sources close to the royal household, the monarch’s greatest hope was that the move could eventually help heal the long-running divide between his two sons.
Charles, who continues to undergo cancer treatment, was informed of Harry and Meghan’s plans before they were publicly announced.
Sources said his relationship with Harry had improved quietly in recent months, particularly after a private reunion earlier this summer. However, insiders stressed that the situation remained delicate and that the King was not attempting to force a reconciliation.
“He will want to see his sons together over time,” a source told PEOPLE, adding that Harry’s relocation represented “the best opportunity we have seen in recent years.”
The move brings Archie and Lilibet back to Britain and places all five of Charles’ grandchildren in the same country for the first time in years, something royal insiders said carried enormous emotional significance for the King.
