What Meghan and Harry's Montecito Neighbors Are Saying Now That the Couple Has Left — and What Harry Told Friends Before

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have left Montecito after six years, prompting fresh questions about the life they built there.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived in California with high expectations for their post-royal future. Now, as they begin again in Britain, former neighbors are offering a different view of the chapter they left behind.

When Harry and Meghan settled in Montecito in 2020, their arrival generated excitement in the wealthy California enclave. Six years later, signs of their presence are already fading.

At Godmothers bookstore, about three miles from the couple's former $14.6 million mansion, Meghan's As Ever products once filled an upstairs room. According to the Daily Mail, oak tables, eucalyptus and a sign saying the space had been "curated by the Duchess herself" completed the display.

By late August, almost all of it was gone.

Only three tins of Meghan's $15 flower sprinkles reportedly remained. The As Ever signage had disappeared, and an employee said, "Oh, we don't stock it any more," after initially appearing unfamiliar with the company's name.

Harry's memoir, "Spare," was also reportedly absent from the store.

Neighbors Say the Sussexes Kept Their Distance

The scene around the Sussexes' former home has changed as well. Paparazzi who once gathered outside the property have disappeared.

One neighbor, identified only as Susan, said Harry and Meghan "never became part of the community."

She recalled occasionally seeing Harry on an electric bike and Meghan driving past in a Range Rover, but said the encounters were fleeting.

Susan also said she left a bottle of wine at the couple's gate to welcome them to the neighborhood. It was returned unopened the following day.

"I'm not sure they ever wanted to hang out with anyone who wasn't a billionaire or famous or both," she said.

Another unnamed neighbor described their departure as "with a whimper, not a bang."

"There were no moving trucks, no parties, nothing at all," the neighbor said. "One day they were here and the next they were back in England."

An unnamed source went further, claiming, "Harry and Meghan became known for making friends with people who could help them. Sarah is one of those people. Rich and with lots of polo ponies."

Harry's Friends Heard Something They Did Not Expect

Friends who caught up with Prince Harry after his return to Britain reportedly anticipated "noises of contrition and humility." Instead, an unnamed source told the same outlet that they heard something very different.

"They were agog to hear he still feels angry with members of the Royal Family, is still frustrated by the 'men in grey suits' who surround his father, and still expects an apology," the source explained.

The source also said Harry's position had effectively remained unchanged since he left royal duties in 2020.

"There will be no imminent mea culpa from Harry by the sounds of things," the source said. "Far from it, in fact. He is still in that Oprah mindset."

Harry's reported expectation of an apology echoes what he said publicly in 2023: "What I'd really like is some accountability. And an apology to my wife."

The source indicated that the influence of Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, continues to shape the family dispute.

"He certainly won't be issuing a public apology for his actions and he's whipped himself up all over again and Diana's legacy is a factor in this," the source explained.

The move also builds on earlier reports suggesting the Sussexes planned to maintain ties to the life they established in California.

Their California Life Isn't Disappearing

Despite the move, the Sussexes are not abandoning the life they created in the United States. They are expected to retain their home in Montecito, as well as their vacation property in Portugal while building a more permanent rhythm between several international bases.

That means Meghan will still be able to oversee her lifestyle company, As Ever, while Harry gains significantly more time in Britain for his charitable work. Among the organizations expected to benefit from his increased presence are Scotty's Little Soldiers, WellChild, and the Invictus community.

Those close to the couple believe the arrangement effectively gives Harry and Meghan something resembling the "half in, half out" model they originally envisioned before their royal exit. They can remain financially independent while still spending substantial time in the country where Harry grew up and where many of his longstanding causes are based.

Allies also maintain that the Sussexes have built the independent life they hoped for, supporting themselves financially, covering their own bills and mortgage, and relying on no taxpayer funding.

Archie and Lilibet Appear to Be Central to the Decision

One clue about Harry's thinking may have emerged nearly a year before the family's return became public. Singer Joss Stone previously recalled a conversation with Harry at the WellChild Awards in September 2025, after she had moved her own family back to Britain following years in Nashville.

"He asked about how we were settling back in and was genuinely interested in our move home," Joss told Hello!. "He's just very warm and down to earth, as always. Maybe Harry will move back too. That would be nice."

What apparently interested Harry most was what returning to Britain had meant for Joss' children. "He was saying how wonderful the schools are here and how important community is for children," she recalled.

"It was nice to share that with him because it's exactly why we felt drawn to come back — for the kids to grow up surrounded by family, friends and a strong sense of belonging and, most importantly, in a safe environment." With Archie and Lilibet now preparing to attend school in Britain, those comments look considerably more significant in hindsight.

A Summer Visit Appears to Have Changed the Picture

The Sussex family's return follows a successful summer trip to the UK that reportedly included Archie and Lilibet's first reunion with Charles in more than four years. Meghan and the children flew from Portugal after Harry had already spent several days carrying out charity engagements in Britain.

The family then had a private reunion with Charles at Highgrove House. They later traveled to Althorp House, where Princess Diana spent much of her childhood and where she is buried.

Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet spent time with members of the wider Spencer family and are believed to have paid their respects at Diana's gravesite on the island in the Oval Lake. The Sussexes also spent several days traveling around Britain.

Meghan later shared vacation images featuring lakeside scenery, beaches and swimming pools, which now appear to have offered an unexpectedly early glimpse of a family preparing to spend far more time in the UK.

Harry's Security Battle Remains Part of the Story

Security has long stood between Harry and the possibility of bringing his family back to Britain for extended periods. When he and Meghan stopped working as senior royals, they lost their taxpayer-funded police protection.

Harry subsequently spent years challenging the arrangements and arguing that the government's Royal and VIP Executive Committee should carry out a fresh risk assessment. He has said that such an assessment has not taken place in more than six years.

Against that history, the decision to establish a UK base suggests that Harry now feels substantially more comfortable bringing Meghan and the children back for longer stays.

However, a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess declined to comment to People about security. The family had previously faced recurring questions about where they would stay when visiting Britain and what protection would be available to them.

Insiders reportedly described that speculation as a "circus." Having a residence of their own appears to remove at least one major source of uncertainty.

Even before news of the relocation emerged, Harry was expected back in the UK in September for engagements involving WellChild, the children's charity he has supported for more than two decades. He is also expected to remain closely involved with events linked to the Invictus Games.

One major event on the horizon is the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards and gala, although those close to the Sussexes have not confirmed whether Harry and Meghan will attend.

The move could give Harry something he has not had in years: the ability to participate more consistently in British charity work without every trip becoming a discussion about temporary accommodation.

King Charles III Was Told Only Days Before the News Emerged

Charles, 77, was reportedly informed of Harry and Meghan's plans on Sunday, August 16. The King is said to welcome the chance to see more of the Sussex family. That development follows a period in which Harry has gradually been repairing his relationship with his father.

Yet Charles has reportedly also made one thing clear: Harry and Meghan's formal position within the monarchy is not changing. They remain private individuals and non-working members of the royal family, consistent with the arrangement reached when they stepped back from official duties. That distinction helps explain one of the most interesting details surrounding their return.

Prince William Remains a Very Different Story

While Harry's relationship with his father appears to have improved, his relationship with Prince William remains distant. Despite speculation that the brothers' tensions might have softened, People understands that there is still "no contact" between them.

"I thought it would have perhaps eased a little bit by now, to be honest," a close source said in July. "But there has been no movement, especially on William's side."

The brothers' relationship has been strained for years, with tensions intensifying following Harry and Meghan's Oprah Winfrey interview, their "Harry & Meghan" Netflix series and Harry's 2023 memoir, "Spare."

The Sussexes originally left Britain in 2020 amid an increasingly public breakdown in relations with members of the royal family. Their return therefore does not necessarily signal a broad royal reconciliation. Instead, it appears to represent something much more carefully defined.

The Sussexes Already Have a Support Network Waiting

Harry still has a large circle of longtime friends in Britain, while Meghan also has connections of her own. Her college friend Lindsay Jill Roth divides her time between London and Chicago with her husband and their two sons. Harry and Meghan have also remained close to Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank.

Eugenie and Jack divide their time between Britain and Portugal, meaning the families now have homes in two of the same countries. That could give Archie and Lilibet another layer of familiarity as they adjust to spending more time in Europe.