After their decision to step back from royal duties, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a significant relocation to the United States.
Initially, they resided in a stunning waterfront property on Canada's Vancouver Island. However, they later made the move to Meghan's hometown of Los Angeles. Initially, their residence was in Beverly Hills at Tyler Perry's mansion, but they eventually settled in the town of Montecito in Santa Barbara County. Their current residence, dubbed the chateau, spans an impressive 18,000 square feet and sits on 5 acres of land, offering breathtaking views of both the ocean and mountains.
The luxurious abode features 16 bathrooms, nine bedrooms, and a separate guest house with two additional bedrooms and bathrooms. Additionally, amenities include a library, sauna, wine cellar, game room, gym, tennis courts, and an arcade. A local resident, Mary Sheldon, who operates a bookstore in Montecito, shared her perspective on how the Sussexes are treated by other locals. She noted that they are often ignored by other community members. "I think they're basically ignored, and if people come across them, that's fine, but I don't think the locals seek them out in any way," Sheldon explained.
Sheldon also shared her thoughts on Harry's memoir, which she sold at her own store. "I sat and read it, and I got as far as him going to school, and I thought this is a well-written book and it's interesting," she said. However, the book didn't particularly do well at her store, selling around 20 copies since its release in January of 2023. Sheldon also discussed other notable residents of Montecito, including former talk show hosts Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey. She mentioned coming into contact with Winfrey on several occasions, as Winfrey is a regular customer at her store.
Regarding the Sussexes' shopping habits, Sheldon expressed uncertainty. "I don't think they do their own shopping," she told the publication. "I've never seen them do that, or they don't read books, or they shop on Amazon. I don't know what they do." Meanwhile, Prince Harry received advice about expanding his existing endeavors in Montecito. In his most recent piece for the Daily Mail, royal commentator and expert Richard Eden discussed Harry's trademark troubles over a charity he founded in 2006.
The charity, called Sentebale, aims to support people struggling with HIV and AIDS diagnosis. However, plans to expand its operations in America have been thwarted due to trademark difficulties. Inspired by Meghan's penchant for trademarking various goods and services for their lifestyle business, American Riviera Orchard, Harry hoped to secure a trademark for Sentebale in numerous categories. However, the US Patent and Trademark Office decided not to award the patent, hindering their plans. Mr. Eden suggested it might be time for Harry to seek support from the affluent community of Montecito to address these challenges and potentially expand their philanthropic efforts there.
