MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry are reportedly dealing with mixed feelings in their Montecito community, according to a new report citing anonymous local sources.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who moved into their $14.65 million California home in 2020 after stepping back from royal duties, are said by one source to be getting the “cold shoulder” from some neighbours.
The report claims the tension has been building for years rather than stemming from recent headlines about the couple.
One source alleged that some locals are avoiding the pair and feel “exhausted,” while another person close to Harry and Meghan pushed back, insisting the couple have a “great relationship” with their neighbours and love the community, according to New York Post gossip column Page Six.
“They are avoiding them,” says an area source. “No one wants to be seen with them.
“It’s not hate. It’s just a growing awareness that they’re takers with zero self-awareness. Everyone’s exhausted by them.”
Montecito remains one of California’s most star-studded enclaves, with celebrity residents including Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ariana Grande and Jennifer Aniston.
Public opinions about the Sussexes’ place in the community have varied over time.
Sharon Stone previously praised the couple for wanting to be part of the neighbourhood, while local commentator Richard Mineards said in a 2024 documentary that Meghan was not an “asset” to the area.
The latest report also arrives amid business scrutiny surrounding Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, following news that Netflix had ended its partnership with the brand after 11 months.
Meghan recently promoted As Ever by sharing photos from t he family’s garden featuring daughter Princess Lilibet.
While the full picture of the couple’s standing in Montecito remains unclear, the new claims suggest that not everyone in the exclusive community is on the same page about Harry and Meghan.
Key Points
- Some Montecito neighbors reportedly avoiding the Sussexes, calling them self-centered and exhausting
- Other locals and allies dispute claims, insisting the couple maintains warm community relationships
- Meghan’s As Ever faces business scrutiny after Netflix split; she promoted the brand with family garden photos
Why They're In The News
Why This Matters
Local snubs matter because they underscore ongoing reputational challenges for the Sussexes, affecting community ties, public perception and commercial ventures; strained relations in elite Montecito could complicate privacy, partnerships and their broader efforts to rebuild life post-royal duties.
