Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly departed their Montecito home in August with such speed that their children's school was not informed of their relocation back to the United Kingdom. A Montecito resident, Penny Bianchi, told The Sun that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex "just disappeared overnight."
Bianchi, an interior designer, stated that teachers at the school formerly attended by Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, received no notice of the decision to enroll the children in an elite school in England. "My grandchildren go to the same school and my son is an alumnus so I get all my gossip from there," Bianchi said. "I know Archie goes to the school and that they didn’t even know they were leaving until everyone else found out." She added that the school was told, "Don’t hold a place for him as he’s not coming back any time soon."
According to Bianchi, the couple had been waiting for Archie to be accepted into the English school for a considerable time. "The moment" Archie was accepted, she claimed, "they practically left the next day."
Bianchi also asserted that the school's staff "hated" the couple's bodyguards, who would drop the children off. "To be honest, nobody really liked them here very much. They aren’t popular," she told the outlet.
While sources close to Harry and Meghan cited security reasons for not informing the school and noted that bodyguards are common for celebrity families, former Beach Boy Bruce Johnston, a Montecito neighbor, called Harry a "jerk." Johnston suggested Harry might be returning to "make amends" with his brother, Prince William, and father, King Charles, given the King's health and William's future role as monarch. Johnston also speculated that the couple's departure was related to their interactions with Oprah Winfrey, stating, "They were at her home all the time."
Johnston recounted seeing the couple only once in four years, from the back of their car, and described them as keeping to themselves. He also mentioned being concerned about seeing their bodyguards armed with guns while they were refueling their car.
Another local, a koi maintenance specialist who previously worked for the couple, stated that they "didn't align" and criticized their decision to "go against your family." This individual also noted that the Sussexes' home was known to be vacant and advised renting it out to prevent issues.
Other residents speculated that the couple may have left Montecito because "there was nothing left for them" and that they "were never really part of the community." A waitress at a local restaurant claimed Harry and Meghan once refused to wait for a table, though they did pick up a to-go order.
Estate agents have commented on the status of the couple's Montecito property. Kim, an employee at Village Properties, reported that "there are a lot of whispers that the house will be going on the market" and that the company receives daily inquiries about it. Conversely, Montecito estate agent David Encell expressed surprise at the prospect of a sale within a year, citing the high upkeep costs for a "part-time place." Encell also pointed out risks associated with renting out such an expensive property. He suggested that the couple might test the market quietly before a global listing, or that they might be taking a few months in England before deciding on the house's future, noting that "Everyone was surprised when they moved, as this is a place people move to, not from."
Harry and Meghan relocated to Montecito in 2020 after stepping back from their royal duties. Page Six has reached out to representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for comment.