Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have faced criticism from Montecito locals who say they never see the couple, while one man was turned away by security at their home
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games (
Image: Getty)
Neighbours are spilling the tea on what it’s like to live near Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in their swanky Montecito, California digs. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with their two tots, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, made the move stateside after they quit their senior Royal roles in 2020.
One local, Frank McGinity, felt a cold shoulder after being snubbed at the gates of the Sussexes’ plush multi-million dollar pad, saying “they’re not interested” in neighbourly bonds. The US Navy vet had hoped to share his films about Montecito’s history to help them settle but got the brush-off from their security.
He dishes on this frosty reception in his memoir ‘Get Off Your Street’, which also touches on the area’s past mudslide woes.
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The 88 year old penned: “The gate guy turned me away and wouldn’t take the film, just saying ‘they’re not interested’. I was trying to be neighbourly. If they were interested in the neighbourhood I’ve got a lot of information.”
Outside the gates of Prince Harry’s mansion (
Image:
Getty)
McGinity was gobsmacked when he heard that Meghan and Harry had picked the Riven Rock Estate for their nest, as it’s usually a hotspot for an older crowd, not young families, reports the Express.
He asserted: “It’s surprising they came here. People are typically older. It’s where the elephants come to die.”
In conversation with the Montecito Journal, he followed up with: “We don’t see them very much around here.”
Additionally, Harry and Meghan’s neighbour Richard Mineards expressed to The Telegraph his disappointment at not spotting the couple more frequently in the locale, saying that the community is keenly “waiting for them” and “gnashing at the bit”.
Meanwhile, Barry Maher complained to the Mirror about the Sussexes’ “travelling soap opera”, highlighting their choice of a “considerably pricier spot” and their rarity in public appearances.
A property expert weighed in on the costs associated with Harry and Meghan’s lavish £12million residence, suggesting that the annual expenses for maintaining such a property must be astronomical.
Speaking to Fabulous magazine, Eric Bramlett from Bramlett Residential clarified: “Managing a £12million ($14 million) mansion like Harry and Meghan’s in Montecito takes a lot of work.”
He further detailed that it would likely need a team of 10-15 regular staff, including cleaners, a personal chef, and security measures.
Bramlett elaborated on the financial implications, stating: “Just paying the staff salaries, utilities, landscaping, maintenance, security, and more could easily cost hundreds of thousands per year.”
The Sussexes have been approached by Express.co.uk for a response.
