Neighbors in the ritzy California town where Meghan Markle and Prince Harry now reside reportedly refer to the couple as local villains following their departure from royal duties.
Despite never meeting the duo, one Montecito resident described them as “the prince” and “the starlet” in an interview with Vanity Fair.
The residents of the serene Santa Barbara area blame Markle and Prince Harry for various new inconveniences, such as rising housing costs and increased traffic in the neighborhood.
Since the couple’s arrival in 2020, the neighborhood has experienced a significant influx of tourists, with some locals dubbing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as local villains, as reported by Vanity Fair.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been called local villains in their Montecito neighborhood, according to Vanity Fair. (Fox News Digital)
“You know, the thing about [Meghan and Harry] that is so great is they didn’t come here to live off of our community. They came here to be a part of our community.”
Markle’s new business venture, American Riviera Orchard, is also situated in Montecito, as per Vanity Fair. The outlet mentioned that the area was previously known as the American Riviera in a book from 1898 published by the Southern Pacific Company rail lines, although the title is now attributed to Santa Barbara.
“It’s such a kind of hucksterism,” a local resident told Vanity Fair. “It’s just finding every way she can to monetize something.
“I still think they’re the most entitled, disingenuous people on the planet,” the resident added. “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.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to representatives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for a response.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle aren’t the only celebrities who live in Montecito. (Chris Jackson)
Sharon Stone, a celebrity neighbor, has praised the couple for actively engaging with the community instead of solely benefitting from it.
“You know, the thing about them that is so great is they didn’t come here to live off of our community. They came here to be a part of our community,” she shared on Access Hollywood in 2020.
Montecito has been a residence for various other celebrities like Natalie Portman, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Adam Levine, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Keaton, and Oprah.
The gate of the estate where Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle live in Montecito. (Getty Images)
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Despite relocating to the US five years ago, Prince Harry reportedly lacks a social life outside of his immediate family.
“[Meghan] was transparent about the fact that Harry hadn’t formed many friendships yet,” a source who had professional interactions with Markle revealed to Vanity Fair.
The couple delved into work shortly after settling in Montecito in 2020 and secured a lucrative Netflix deal. They launched their docuseries “Harry & Meghan” in 2022, which garnered significant viewership, followed by “Heart of Invictus” in 2023 and “Polo” in 2024.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to California in 2020. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation)
However, sources revealed that many of the couple’s promising show ideas never materialized despite their enthusiasm and dedication to their work.
“I think Harry doesn’t know what he wants because he grew up in a fishbowl, and so he doesn’t know what real life really is,” an insider, who collaborated on media projects with the couple, disclosed to Vanity Fair. “I think he probably wants to be left alone and be able to go kiss babies every once in a while but not have to worry about money. I don’t think he wants to be famous the way Meghan wants to be famous.”
