Get ready to clutch your morning coffee, because while the entire world is still reeling from the bombshell news that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are packing up their lives for an extended move back to the U.K., someone out there is throwing an absolute street party—their very own California neighbors! When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex first touched down in the ultra-exclusive, sleepy California enclave of Montecito back in 2020, most local residents weren’t exactly rolling out the red carpet with open arms. Instead, whispers from the neighborhood reveal there were immediate, anxious concerns about the tidal wave of intense media spotlight and non-stop global scrutiny that would inevitably follow the royal couple into such a quiet, private community.
Six Years of Exhaustion: From Initial Worries to “Good Riddance”
Fast forward six long years later, and those initial worries have apparently morphed into outright frustration. According to candid bombshells dropped to Page Six by local insiders, several Montecito residents “couldn’t be more thrilled” to wave goodbye as Harry, Meghan, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, prepare to cross the Atlantic back to British soil.
As one local resident bluntly explained to reporters, highlighting the community’s core vibe: “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.” While the source was quick to clarify that this sigh of relief represents their own personal experiences and conversations shared with multiple neighbors rather than an official blanket statement for every single household in town, the underlying sentiment is loud and clear.
The Price of Privacy: Ununusal Media Storms and “Grift and Griftess” Backlash
Even though Montecito is already a notorious celebrity-filled sanctuary housing massive A-list stars like Oprah Winfrey, locals claim that Harry and Meghan managed to drag an entirely “unusual level of press and media attention” straight into their peaceful backyards. The constant circus reportedly wore down the neighborhood’s patience to the absolute bone.
Another neighbor didn’t mince words whatsoever, bluntly shouting a definitive “Good riddance!” when asked about the impending royal departure. According to this insider, a lot of locals are secretly breathing a massive sigh of relief because the couple was allegedly notorious for constantly “asking for grandiose favors” from friends, acquaintances, and colleagues purely “because of their titles,” while reportedly “never giving anything back” in return to either those individuals or the broader Montecito community. Some disgruntled locals even went so far as to savagely coin them the “Grift and Griftess of Sussex,” summing up the local mood with the stinging declaration: “The town is exhausted by them, the entitlement and the never ending drama.”
Keeping the Mansions Warm While Britain Groans
To add a little extra spice to the transatlantic plot, Page Six also spilled that some of the couple’s own friends back in the U.K. have been jokingly firing back across the ocean with a mock plea of their own: “Please keep them! We don’t want them!”
Despite the burning neighborhood drama and the heavy sighs echoing across California, back on August 19th, People officially confirmed that the family of four is indeed locking in plans to relocate to the U.K. for an extended period. Interestingly enough, sources reveal they have no intention of burning their bridges in the sun, planning to hold onto both their multi-million-dollar Montecito mega-mansion and their cozy European vacation home in Portugal. As the Sussexes prepare for their next big chapter, one thing is certain: California is ready to lock its doors, while Britain braces for impact!
Source: compiled from various sources