We’ll never be royals: the California town where Prince Harry and Meghan lived says goodbye

The bucolic coastal California town of Montecito was thrust into the limelight six years ago as the backdrop for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s second act following an acrimonious split from Buckingham Palace.But as the couple plans their return to the United Kingdom, Montecito’s whirlwind stint on the global stage may be coming to an end.To be clear, the well-to-do enclave near Santa Barbara is unlikely to lose its reputation as a hideout for celebrities – a respite from the paparazzi den that Los Angeles, about 90 miles (145km) south, can be. Oprah, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ellen DeGeneres, among other public figures, have all resided in the tony community.Prince Harry and Meghan, though, were arguably top contenders for Montecito’s most attention-grabbing residents. After news emerged that the couple had bought a $14.7m estate in the area, news helicopters and photographers swarmed in, to the annoyance of some neighbors.The estate of Prince Harry and Meghan in Montecito, California, on 6 March 2021. Photograph: Valérie Macon/AFP/Getty ImagesReporters even clamored for intel on a local Facebook page, prompting a moderator to warn journalists in a 2020 post: “No one will sell out or talk to the press. We don’t care who you are or where you came from, if you are our neighbor and act like a neighbor we support you.”Santa Barbara tourism officials, meanwhile, embraced the fervor, beckoning future residents or visitors with an online tagline: “Montecito: Fit for Royalty”.The Sussexes maintained a low profile, blending into everyday life, according to Montecito residents who spoke with The Guardian. As the couple’s next move lands like a bombshell across the pond – a shock even to some royal officials – in Montecito, residents reacted with a range of indifference and understanding.At lunch hour on Thursday afternoon, shops along a stretch of Coast Village Road roared to life. At the Montecito Country Mart, visitors lingered outside, dining on sandwiches and sipping caffeinated drinks from a slew of nearby bakeries. The bustling area stood in stark contrast to other, quieter parts of town with lavish homes hidden behind tall, well-manicured shrubs.In a boutique brimming with nautical trinkets, 65-year-old Susanne pondered the prospect of Harry and Meghan reconciling with their family. “I would love to see that,” she said, declining to give her last name.Montecito, near the home of Prince Harry and Meghan, in 2021. Photograph: Marcio José Sánchez/APIn recent years, the couple have given a wide berth to Buckingham Palace. Meghan, who is biracial, publicly chastised her royal relatives for racist mistreatment and inadequate handling of media intrusion. More recently, the couple was embroiled in a protracted legal dispute over funding for their security protection.“It’s sad that it’s been divided,” Susanne said.Erin E Doherty, moderator of a Montecito Facebook page with more than 11,000 members, had no problem with Harry and Meghan living in her area, which she called a “little slice of heaven”.It was not unusual for billionaires to socialize with people in lower-income brackets, she said, noting that she would run into Harry strolling on the beach with his children “all the time”.Doherty’s only gripe around the royal ordeal was with overzealous members of the press.“I think it’s natural to want to raise children around family and let them have relationships with cousins,” she said of their move. “If they didn’t, I’m sure they would regret it.”A view of the community gate of the home of Harry and Meghan, in Montecito in 2021. Photograph: Ringo HW Chiu/APKarna Hughes, the director of public relations at Visit Santa Barbara, heaped praise on the couple for patronizing local businesses.Some of the town’s attractions received the Hollywood treatment with screen time on Meghan’s Netflix cooking show, With Love, Meghan.“We hope they found respite in the beautiful vistas of the mountains and beaches as well as neighborly camaraderie,” Hughes said. “We will warmly welcome them back any time.”Another area resident, though, held Harry and Meghan in comparatively low regard.Montecito used to be a “cute small town”, said a man, dining outside Sakana Sushi, who declined to give his name. It always had old money, but from his perspective as a “working-class contractor” who has lived nearby since 1974, he has seen the enclave creep toward being untenably “rich-ified”.“Good riddance,” he said of the couple’s return across the pond.Harry and Meghan may not be entirely through with Montecito. They reportedly plan to keep their property.