Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly leaving the U.S. with their children and moving back to the U.K – this is what their neighbors are saying about the move.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to leave royal life behind back in 2020. After spending some time in Canada, they chose to settle in Montecito, California.
However, a shocking turn has now occurred: The couple are reportedly set to return to the U.K. with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. According to reports, they have even enrolled the children in British schools already. The family is expected to stay in a private, non-royal home outside London.
“The palace was made aware of the move,” a source told Page Six, explaining the main reason for the move. “I know that Charles is the reason they are moving back.”
Harry and Meghan moving back to the U.K.
It seems, however, that they will keep their Montecito home, as well as their vacation home in Portugal, according to The Mirror.
But one source told the New York Post that there have been some “rumblings” about them eventually selling their house, and that “every broker” would be out for the listing.
The news of their departure has reportedly received a mixed reaction in Montecito, with some residents apparently pleased to see the Sussexes leave.
One of Harry and Meghan’s neighbors reportedly claimed that some Montecito residents responded to their move by saying “good riddance,” saying they were “happy” about it since the couple allegedly continuously use “their title” and ask “for grandiose favors”. One source told Page Six that a few locals refer to the couple as the “Grift and Griftess of Sussex” while claiming they “never give anything back” to others or act for the benifit of “the actual Montecito community.”
“The town is exhausted by them, the entitlement and the never ending drama,” they said, according to Page Six.
“We don’t really give a crap”
One insider even claimed they “couldn’t be more thrilled” about the Sussex leaving the area.
“Montecito is a very private, peaceful place, and I think a lot of people here will be happy to see things go back to being a little quieter,” they told the outlet, according to Bored Panda.
Another source told the Daily Mail: “Everything in Montecito was about Harry and Meghan this, Harry and Meghan that, and it got tiring, especially for the other stars who live there.”
Vanessa Lynn, manager of a local boutique in the area, also commented on their departure, saying she would be glad to see the town go back to normal.
“We don’t really give a crap,” she told the outlet, according to Bored Panda. “We don’t care. 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.”
Lynn also said the couple wasn’t seen out and about very often, and that visitors were “usually disappointed”.
Her friend added: “We all hoped they would support local shops and patronize local restaurants, but that rarely happened.”
Some are sad to see them go
Of course, though, some people have also said they’re sad to see them go.
Taylor, 70, said she always had a feeling Prince Harry wouldn’t “last long” because of the “huge cultural difference from England.”
“He can’t just go out to the pub. It’s isolating here,” they added. “He’s going back to all the problems he desperately wanted to escape by coming to America.”
Brett Sanderson, manager of Lucky’s Steakhouse, said: “We’ll miss them,” and “we love them.”
Maitre d’ Jessi from the restaurant Little Mountain also said: “They’ve been here several times and we’ll certainly miss their presence.”
So while the Sussexes are reportedly preparing to leave their California life behind and return to Harry’s home country, the reaction from the Montecito community appears to be far from unanimous. Some residents may be ready for the couple to go, while others say they will genuinely miss having Harry and Meghan in town.