Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly left their Montecito mansion for the United Kingdom without significant fanfare, according to neighbors who spoke to the Daily Mail. Described as leaving "with a whimper, not a bang," the couple's departure was noted for its lack of any visible moving operations or farewell events.
One Montecito resident stated that the couple's presence in the community was hardly noticed, suggesting that their departure would have gone largely unremarked upon if not for media reports. "I doubt anyone would have noticed they’d left if it hadn’t been reported in the news," the neighbor told the outlet. Another resident, Susan, recounted a similar lack of close interaction, recalling an instance where a welcoming gift she offered in 2020 was returned unopened.
Local businesses have also seemingly moved on, with one bookstore no longer stocking products associated with Markle or Prince Harry's memoir, "Spare." This shift reflects a broader sentiment among some locals that the couple never fully integrated into the community.
However, some neighbors suggested that the move back to Britain might be motivated by a desire for their royal titles to hold more significance. "Over here they, and their children, don’t mean much in terms of status," noted boutique owner Wendy Foster. "In Britain their titles mean something."
Insiders also shared with Page Six that some residents in Montecito are pleased by the Sussexes' departure, with one bluntly stating, "Good riddance!" This sentiment was attributed to an alleged pattern of the couple seeking favors due to their titles without reciprocating to the community. Another source described the town as "exhausted by them, the entitlement and the never-ending drama."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex purchased their $14 million Montecito estate in 2020, shortly after stepping back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family. Their return to the UK with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, marks a new chapter for the family, with neighbors speculating about the underlying reasons for the relocation.