Harry and Meghan Face a Brutal Verdict From Montecito Neighbours as Sussexes Prepare to Leave California

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing to leave the California community they have called home for six years — and some of their reported Montecito neighbours have reacted to the news with anything but sadness.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to relocate to Britain later this month, where they will establish a base in a private, non-royal residence outside London.

Their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, are also preparing for a major change after being enrolled in British schools ahead of the September term.

But as the Sussexes prepare to leave Montecito behind, comments attributed to local residents have painted a decidedly mixed picture of their time in the wealthy California community.

Some residents reportedly welcomed the news, while others criticised the couple for the way they have conducted themselves since moving to the United States.

Montecito residents react to the Sussexes’ departure

According to comments reported by The Sun, some shop workers, dog walkers and other residents have expressed relief at the prospect of Harry and Meghan leaving the area.

One resident, identified as Jennifer and described as having worked at a store Meghan regularly visited, claimed the Duchess had become a “laughing stock” locally.

Jennifer also accused Meghan of copying other people’s looks and ideas, while acknowledging that she still hoped the couple would eventually find happiness.

“I feel sorry for them but hope they find happiness,” she said, adding that she believed Harry and Meghan had “ostracised themselves” both in California and elsewhere.

Her comments reflected a mixture of criticism and sympathy rather than a universally hostile reaction.

Another store employee was considerably more blunt about the couple’s departure.

“I’m glad they’re leaving. Good riddance,” the worker reportedly told The Sun.

The resident also criticised Meghan for discussing Butterfly Beach in her show, claiming that the publicity had negatively affected the location.

Criticism over the Sussexes’ security

One of the more unusual complaints concerned the couple’s security arrangements.

The resident claimed Harry and Meghan stood out because they were frequently accompanied by bodyguards, unlike other high-profile figures living in the area.

“Other A-listers just as famous and likely richer than them walk around casually like any normal person,” the employee reportedly said.

The comments provide a glimpse into how some people in the community view the Sussexes’ unusually high-profile presence.

However, the remarks represent the opinions of individual residents and should not be treated as a reflection of the entire Montecito community.

Harry and Meghan have lived in the area since 2020, after stepping away from their senior royal roles and moving from Britain to the United States.

Their California years have included major media projects, charitable work and continued global attention surrounding their relationship with the Royal Family.

The Sussexes are returning to Britain

The move back to the UK represents a significant change for the family.

Harry and Meghan are expected to live outside London in a private, non-royal property, while Archie and Lilibet are due to begin their education in Britain.

Despite the relocation, there will be no formal return to working royal duties.

The couple will continue as private individuals and non-working members of the Royal Family. There is also no indication that they will be offered the “half-in, half-out” arrangement that was rejected when they stepped away from royal duties in 2020.

That means their return should not be interpreted as a restoration of their former positions within the monarchy.

Instead, they will be physically closer to the Royal Family while remaining outside the working institution.

King Charles is reportedly pleased to see more of his family

The Sussexes’ decision has nevertheless created an opportunity for King Charles to spend more time with his son and grandchildren.

The King was reportedly informed about the move on Sunday, just three days before the announcement became public.

Despite the surprise surrounding the decision, Charles is understood to welcome the prospect of seeing Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet more often in Britain, particularly on a private and personal basis.

The development follows a recent private reunion between Charles and the Sussexes, which was seen as an important moment in the relationship between father and son.

The situation with other members of the Royal Family remains considerably more complicated.

Neither Buckingham Palace nor Kensington Palace issued a public statement about the Sussexes’ decision to return to Britain.

A very different chapter for Harry and Meghan

The move means Harry and Meghan are leaving behind the Montecito life they established after their departure from royal duties.

Their California home became closely associated with their new life outside the monarchy, while the couple continued to command enormous international media attention.

Now they are preparing to establish a new family base in Britain — the country they left six years ago.

The reported reactions from some Montecito residents add another layer to the story, but they remain individual opinions rather than an official verdict from the community.

For Harry and Meghan, the bigger challenge may be what awaits them on the other side of the Atlantic.

Their return will place them closer to King Charles and the wider Royal Family, while their relationship with Prince William remains strained. At the same time, their children will begin life at British schools and the Sussexes will once again find themselves under intense scrutiny from the British media.

After six years in California, the Sussexes are preparing for a very different chapter.

And if the reactions from some of their reported neighbours are anything to go by, their departure from Montecito is already proving almost as controversial as their arrival.