EXCLUSIVE: Neighbors tell Daily Express US that the royals are rarely spotted in their idyllic coastal town despite their massive international profile.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are virtual ghosts in their hometown as they seek to build their brand down in Hollywood.
“Day to day people don’t see them,” says Sophia, who works at a women’s boutique in Montecito’s popular Coast Village Road.
“I don’t think it’s too much of an impact here.”
Residents of the idyllic coastal town – located just outside of Santa Barbara – tell Daily Express US that the royals lead relatively reclusive lives and are seen less often than other notable residents like Oprah Winfrey.
“It’s kind of the way Montecito is anyway, everyone just does their own thing,” says the co-owner of Tresor Montecito.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have had “no impact at all” on their California town (Image: GETTY)
The couple live in a palatial nine-bedroom mansion, so it’s no surprise they’re rarely spotted (Image: SANATABARBARASLUXURYHOMES.COM)
The couple live in a plush nine-bedroom, 16-bathroom mansion valued at around $14.7 million.
Such swanky digs may explain why they’re rarely spotted out and about.
“It’s pretty big news when they are seen or do come out. Generally speaking, they’re fairly private individuals,” explains Zach Rosen, managing editor of the local Montecito Journal newspaper.
Even if they did, Rosen says the paper is reluctant to run anything about the couple that hasn’t been extensively reported elsewhere.
“We’re usually taking the stance that these are our community members and we do want to respect their privacy,” he says.
Neighbors say “everyone just does their own thing” in Montecito (Image: GETTY)
He adds: “We probably feel the media presence more than their presence.”
Mary Sheldon, who owns the Tecolote book shop in the town’s Upper Village, lives less than a mile up the hill from the world famous duo.
“I have seen black SUVs on my road. Other than that, it has no impact at all,” she said, noting that Winfrey has come into her store but the Sussexes have not.
The day Harry’s memoir Spare came out, Sheldon went into work to sell it even though the area was under a mandatory evacuation order due to a rainstorm.
“I sold a few copies that day, and so far, maybe 20 copies,” she told.
