Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly preparing to leave their estate in Montecito, California, this month to establish a private home in the United Kingdom, according to reports from the BBC and local coverage. Neither Buckingham Palace nor representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have publicly confirmed the relocation, which comes more than six years after the couple left Britain and settled in California.
A Muted Farewell in Santa Barbara County
The impending move from the affluent enclave was met with a muted reaction from local residents. According to reporting by the Daily Mail, the community—which is home to high-profile figures including Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry, and Ellen DeGeneres—showed little outward surprise at the news.
“We don’t really give a crap,” Vanessa Lynn, manager of a local women’s boutique, told the Daily Mail. “This used to be a nice sleepy little town, but when Harry and Meghan arrived, a bunch of people would come in hoping to see them. But Harry and Meghan didn’t really assimilate into the community.”
Local Business Tensions and Celebrity Neighborhood Dynamics
Other local business owners noted that the couple rarely patronized local shops or restaurants. According to sources cited by the Daily Mail, some residents in the celebrity-studded hillside community had grown fatigued by the constant attention and media focus surrounding the Sussexes during their time in California.
Among Montecito’s most notable residents, actress Gwyneth Paltrow will reportedly not be upset by the departure. A source told the Daily Mail that Paltrow “didn’t like being compared to Meghan, so she is glad she is moving out of Montecito,” noting similar comparisons between Paltrow’s lifestyle brand, Goop, and Meghan’s brand, As Ever. A second source added that Paltrow harbors no personal animosity, stating that she admires Meghan and dislikes being pitted against other women.
Establishing a Private Residence Outside London
According to the BBC, the family plans to establish a private, non-royal residence outside London. The exact location has not been disclosed, and it remains unconfirmed whether the property has been purchased or rented.
The Sussexes are not expected to return to Frogmore Cottage, the Windsor-estate home that served as their U.K. residence from 2019 until 2023. While they are expected to retain their Montecito property as well as a home in Portugal, the family’s children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, have reportedly been enrolled at British schools and are scheduled to begin classes in September, according to the BBC.
Ties to King Charles III and the Royal Family
The move will place the family closer to King Charles III. According to the Associated Press, the King was informed of the decision on a Sunday, having not been told of the plan during the Sussexes’ visit to Highgrove the previous month. The BBC reported that King Charles welcomes the prospect of spending more private time with Prince Harry, Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet. Reports indicate no similar change in relations between Harry and Prince William.
